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JAMES  HUSH  BRONSON 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

Microsoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/flagofourcountryOObronrich 


FAST  INDIA  COMPANIES    FLAG 
1600 


FLAG  OF  "THE  UNION"   OR 

THE  "CAMBRIDGE     FLAG" 

JAN.,     2,     1776 


ADOPTED  BY  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS 
JUNE   14,1777 


FLAG-MAY   I,  1795 
FLAG    OF  15  STARS  AND  STRIPES 


The  Flag  of  Our 
Country 


By 

James  Rush  Bronson 
1 


First  Printing  December 
1921 


James  Rush  Bronson 
All  rights  reserved 


News  Publishing  Co.,  Sacramento,  California 


IlliiimiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiimHiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiMiii 

'Neglect  to  observe  the  rules  of  conduct 
toward  the  flag  of  the  United  States  proves 
one  of  two  things — either  you  purposely 
disobey  the  wishes  of  your  government,  or 
you  are  woefully  ignorant  of  patriotic 
usage. 

iiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiimmiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii i 


947K 


AMERICA,  WHAT  BINDS  ME 
SO  TO  THEE? 


Is  it  the  valorous  deeds  of  thy  heroic  dead? 

Is  it  because  I've  known  thee, 

Since  mine  eyes  beheld  the  light? 

Is  it  because  my  baby  lips, 

First  lisped  thy  wondrous  name? 

Or  is  it  because  thy  crystal  flood, 

Pure  as  the  virgin  snow, 

Flows  ever  onward  to  the  sea? 

America,  what  binds  me  so  to  thee? 

Is  it  because  thy  door  of  hope  swings  wide 

To  a  world  accursed? 

Bids  the  weary  and  oppressed 

To  live  in  peace  and  plenty  on  thy  shores? 

Is  it  because  thy  words  of  hope  have  reached 

The  blood  soaked  soil  of  France 

Where  loyal  sons 

Upheld  the  honor  of  thy  name? 

Perhaps  'tis  thy  valleys, 

Fringed  with  mighty  forests  tall; 

Or  the  thunder  of  the  sea 

Against  thy  granite  wall. 

Perhaps,  the  hidden  treasures  in  thy  breast, 

The  products  of  thy  fertile  fields, 


Thy  lakes,   thy   streams, 

Or,  has  the  glory  of  thy  setting  sun 

Burst  through  the  darkened  chamber  of  my  soul? 

Methinks,  it  is  the  matchless  blue  of  heaven's  dome, 

Flecked  with  glistening  stars  ; 

Or  the  dainty  kiss  of  twilight, 

As  my  weary  eyes  find  rest. 

It  is  not  subtle  fear 

That  fans  the  flame  of  mystery; 

Nor  has  thy  boundless  wealth, 

Engulfed  the  virtues  accredited  to  thee. 


What  power  I  ask,  that  binds  me  so? 

I  fain  would  leave  thee 

Yet  I  dare  not  go; 

I  vainly  struggle  with  thy  golden  chain, 

But  hark,  'tis  the  echo  of  a  sweet  refrain. 

"My  country  'tis  of  thee, 
Sweet  land  of  liberty, 
Of  thee  I  sing." 

My  vision  clears,  mine  eyes  behold 

The  heritage  of  passing  years  ; 

For  there  on  high  a  banner  waves, 

I  see  its  glory  through  my  tears. 

List'  to  the  wondrous  message  sent 

To  all  enslaved  who  would  be  free  ; 

God  bless  each  star,  each  stripe,  each  fold, 

Long  wave  this  pledge  of  liberty. 

"Land  where  our  fathers  died, 
Land  of  the  pilgrim's  pride, 
From  every  mountain  side, 
Let  freedom  ring." 

I  know  what  binds  me  so  to  thee, 
Resplendent  land  of  liberty; 
I  love  thy  rocks  and  templed  hills, 
I  love  thy  vales  and  crystal  rills, 
I  love  thy  moon,  thy  sun,  thy  stars, 
I  love  thy  flag  of  crimson  bars, 
I  love  thee,  love  thee,  love  but  thee, 
Dear  land  of  human  liberty. 


I  ■  1 1 1 1 1 1  ■  1 1 1  ■  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  ■  j  I  ■ !  I  .  ■  1 1 1 1  ■  i  ■  ■  i  ■  ■  I  ■  ■  ■  i  ■  I  ■  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  ■  1 1 1  ■  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  ■  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1: 

Of  what  value  are  ears  if  one  will  not 
hear,  of  eyes  if  one  will  not  see,  of  mind 
if  one  ivill  not  reason,  of  knowledge  if  one 
refuses  to  use  it? 

■  nun  j iiiaiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiimmiiiiiiii! iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiini 


INTRODUCTION 


IT  MUST  BE  apparent  to  every  thinking 
citizen  of  the  Republic  that  the  use  of  the 
Flag  of  Our  Country,  particularly  in  decora- 
tions, is  as  varied  as  the  imagination  of  the 
individual,  and  its  abuse,  through  ignorance, 
as  common.  Habitually,  we  satisfy  our 
patriotism  by  exhibiting  the  National  ensign 
on  our  person  or  premises,  and  seldom  if 
ever  consider  the  question  of  propriety. 

We  forget  that  England,  is  English; 
France,  French;  Spain,  Spanish;  Germany, 
German;  Austria,  Austrian;  Italy,  Italian; 
etc.,  etc.  But  the  United  States  is  composed 
of  many  races,  and  here  assimilation  must 
begin:  We  fail  to  impress  ourselves,  as  well 
as  the  stranger,  that  here,  there  can  be  but 
one  country  for  all;  one  standard  of  justice 
and  liberty  for  all;  one  language  for  all;  and 
one  Flag  for  all.  - 

A  knowledge  of  the  birth,  growth,  and 
progress  of  this  Flag  will  undoubtedly 
hasten  the  hour  of  National  understanding. 
When  once  our  varied  population  stand  be- 
neath its  folds  a  united  people,  subservient 
to  law  and  order,  a  new  civilization  will  have 
been  born.    Then,  and  not  until  then,  will 


INTRODUCTION  (Continued) 


political,  social,  commercial,  and  religious 
animosities  be  abandoned  and  from  out  the 
present  welter  of  ignorance,  disobedience, 
and  selfishness,  will  spring  the  new  defend- 
ers of  self-government. 

To  the  fathers  and  mothers  of  the  Re- 
public; to  the  girl  and  boy  aspiring  to  hon- 
orable citizenship;  to  the  assimilable 
stranger  within  our  gates,  this  effort  is  re- 
spectfully dedicated.  May  it  encourage  a 
deeper,  more  profound  love,  not  alone  for 
the  Flag  of  Our  Country,  but  for  the  Gra- 
cious Master,  whose  watchful  care  has  made 
possible  the  glorious  heritage  of  "life,  lib- 
erty, and  the  pursuit  of  happiness.' ' 

THE  AUTHOR. 
June  14th,  1921. 


NARRATIVE  I 


iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiii miii mi 

My  friend,  you  are  but  the  human  thread 
in  the  national  fabric.  God  has  given  you 
texture,  color  and  strength.  You  must 
emerge  from  the  loom  the  weave  of  your 
own  making.  As  the  shuttle  of  life  fash- 
ions the  human  fabric,  let  the  spirit  of 
Love,  Justice  and  Patriotism  become  the 
warp  and  woof  of  the  pattern  conceived. 

Disregard  this,  and  the  texture  so  made 
will  quickly  fade  under  the  penetrating 
rays  of  His  immutable  law. 

miimiiiHiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 1111 


The  Flag  of  Our  Country 


NARRATIVE  I. 

T  AM  BUT  A  CRIMSON  THREAD.  It  is 
-L  therefore  fortunate  for  these  narratives 
that  young  though  I  was,  I  possessed  an  im- 
pressionable nature  as  well  as  a  retentive 
memory,  else  how  could  I  now  recall  many 
incidents  in  which  I  have  been  and  am  still 
deeply  concerned'? 

In  scrutinizing  the  period  preceding  my 
birth,  you  will,  in  justice  to  me,  exercise  pa- 
tience for  I  must  depend  solely  upon  the 
statements  of  others,  and  verification  so 
long  delayed  has  been  perplexing,  to  say 
the  least.  Bearing  in  mind  this  handicap, 
and  with  kindly  consideration  for  my  ex- 
treme youth,  I  am  sure  that  you  will  not 
expect  too  much  of  me. 

Why  a  crimson  thread  was  selected  the 
hero  of  this  narrative  has  never  been  satis- 
factorily explained,  but  I  am  free  to  con- 
fess, I  enjoyed  the  delightful  mystery. 
Probably  it  was  because  being  crimson,  I 
symbolize  hardiness  and  valor.     If  this  be 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 


true,  I  am  ready  to  frankly  admit,  it  took 
considerable  of  both,  particularly  when  all 
the  facts  were  of  such  a  personal  character. 

Long  before  I  became  a  part  of  the  Flag 
of  the  United  States,  I  was  a  humble 
crimson  thread  wound  round  the  spindle  of 
a  shuttle  that  whizzed  and  whirred  back  and 
forth  through  the  warp  of  a  loom,  steadily 
fabricating  yard  upon  yard  of  crimson  cloth. 
It  is  with  grateful  remembrance  I  recall  the 
tender  care  of  the  weaver.  While  I  did  not 
know  it  at  the  time,  I  was  being  created  for 
a  special  purpose. 

Little  did  I  realize  in  the  happy,  careless 
hours  of  my  youth,  that  I,  a  simple  linen 
thread,  was  destined  to  take  so  important  a 
part  in  the  construction  of  a  new  govern- 
ment. Had  I  been  capable  of  understanding 
this  destined  responsibility,  I  fear  my  youth 
and  inexperience  would  have  robbed  me  of 
the  hardiness  and  valor  credited  to  me. 

Prom  a  single  thread,  I  gradually  grew 
into  a  great  bolt  of  crimson  cloth.  After  be- 
ing removed  from  the  loom,  I  was  carefully 
rewound,  and  finally  packed  and  shipped  to 
America.  Upon  my  arrival  in  Philadelphia, 
I  was  taken  from  the  ship  and  delivered  to 
the  consignee,  and  by  him  placed  upon  a 
shelf  with  others  of  my  kind. 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

Of  course  I  did  not  know  these  interesting 
facts  at  the  time,  but  subsequent  events 
made  this  information  possible.  One  day  a 
carpenter  was  engaged  in  repairing  the 
shelf  upon  which  I  reposed.  Unintentionally 
he  weakened  it,  and  several  bolts  of  cloth, 
including  myself  and  friends,  fell  to  the  floor 
with  a  crash.  After  being  replaced  upon  an- 
other, capable  of  sustaining  our  combined 
weight,  I  discovered,  much  to  my  delight, 
that  I  could  see.  In  falling  a  corner  of  my 
paper  wrapping  had  been  torn,  giving  me 
opportunity  for  observation. 

I  very  naturally  took  advantage  of  this 
and  soon  found  that  I  was  not  alone.  To  my 
right  lay  bolts  of  Blue  and  White  material 
like  myself.  We  exchanged  courtesies,  and 
I  was  extremely  gratified  to  find  my  neigh- 
bor Blue  a  most  affable  companion. 

Later  I  addressed  my  attention  to  the  bolt 
of  White,  and  in  an  incredibly  short  time, 
we  three,  Red,  White,  and  Blue  were  upon 
the  most  intimate  terms  imaginable.  What 
is  still  more  remarkable,  our  association  for 
one  hundred  and  forty-four  years,  has  in- 
tensified our  affection,  each  for  the  other. 
It  is  no  idle  assertion,  when  I  emphatically 
declare,  there  exists  no  power  within  the 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

attainment  of  man  which  could  bring  about 
a  severance  of  that  love. 

During  one  of  our  many  delightful  con- 
versations, I  learned  that  we  three,  Red, 
White  and  Blue,  had  been,  without  our 
knowledge,  friends  for  many  centuries.  The 
ancestral  meeting  occurred  when  the  Lord 
presented  Moses  with  the  "Ten  Command- 
ments" together  with  the  "Book  of  Laws," 
which  were  reverently  deposited  in  the 
"Ark  of  the  Covenant"  protected  by  "ten 
curtains  of  fine  linen,  and  purple,  and  scar- 
let, and  blue." 

This,  I  learned,  was  the  first  authentic 
mention  of  myself  and  associates,  now 
known  as  Red,  White,  and  Blue.  Naturally 
this  information  served  to  cement  our  faith 
in  and  respect  each  for  the  other.  It  is  un- 
necessary to  add  that  we  felt  exceedingly 
grateful  to  the  early  Jewish  church  for  our 
introduction  to  the  peoples  of  the  western 
world. 

*  Our  several  conferences  brought  out  these 
facts;  my  crimson  sheen  symbolized  hardi- 
ness and  valor;  my  friend  White  represent- 
ed purity  and  innocence;  Blue,  typified, 
perseverance,  vigilance,  and  justice.  This 
was  indeed  a  remarkable  combination,  and 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

as  we  symbolized  the  principles  of  liberty 
and  justice  so  necessary  for  the  foundation 
of  self-government,*  it  will  occasion  little 
surprise  to  know  that  we  were  selected  to 
play  so  important  a  part  in  the  affairs  of 
the  world. 

As  I  recall  the  formative  period,  the 
hours  were  not  without  interest.  We  found 
in  each  other  much  to  entertain  and  instruct. 
We  were,  I  distinctly  remember,  greatly 
amused  by  the  men  and  women  moving 
to  and  fro  about  the  store.  We  feared 
that  we,  like  other  fabrics  would  be  pur- 
chased, torn,  wrapped  and  carried  away, 
heaven  only  knew  by  whom  or  whither.  We 
often  commented  upon  this  possibility  and 
wondered  what  would  be  our  fate. 

"What,"  we  asked  ourselves,  "would 
purity  and  innocence  do  without  hardiness 
and  valor?  And  on  the  other  hand,  how 
could  perseverance,  vigilance,  and  justice 
exist,  if  separated  from  hardiness  and  valor, 
or  purity  and  innocence?"  The  loss,  so  far 
as  we  were  concerned,  would  be  incalculable. 
Our  probable  fate,  therefore,  caused  us 
genuine  alarm. 

One  day  we  were  startled  to  see  a  military 
gentleman  enter  the  store,  walk  briskly  to 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

the  counter  and  stop  directly  in  front  of  us. 
His  fine  face  wore  a  look  of  sadness,  yet  a 
smile  played  about  his  firm  lips  and  in  his 
eyes  glowed  the  fire  of  love  and  truth.  He 
wore  the  uniform  of  an  officer  of  the  Con- 
tinental Army,  and  his  name  was  General 
George  Washington. 

"Have  you  received  the  material  order- 
ed V  he  asked. 

"Yes,  General, "  replied  the  clerk  who  ad- 
vanced toward  him,  "and  I  am  sure  the  col- 
ors will  meet  with  your  approval.' '  With- 
out another  word,  we  three,  Red,  White,  and 
Blue,  were  taken  from  the  shelf,  stripped  of 
our  wrappings  and  placed  side  by  side  upon 
the  counter. 

"You  are  right;  they  are  very  beautiful. 
You  will  see  that  they  are  delivered  to  this 
address  immediately,"  and  Washington 
gave  the  clerk  a  small  card  upon  which  he 
had  written  our  destination. 

"They  will  be  delivered  within  the  hour," 
answered  the  clerk. 

"That  will  meet  every  requirement,"  re- 
plied Washington,  who  without  another 
word,  turned  and  walked  rapidly  from  the 
store. 


NARRATIVE  II. 


litmiiiiiiiiiiiiu ■■■■■■iiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiili 1 1  mi  n 

True  Americanism  can  exist  only  in  the 
hearts  of  those  who  understand  and  ap- 
preciate the  Flag  of  Our  Country. 

II iiiiMiiiii i!  mi  ill  ii  i  illinium iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin ill 


NARRATIVE  II. 

IT  WAS  NOT  long  before  we  were  again 
brought  together.  I  distinctly  remember 
being  placed  upon  a  table  beside  my  two 
companions  White  and  Blue.  There  were 
several  ladies  in  the  room,  and  all  enthusias- 
tically praised  our  brilliant  colors.  They  de- 
clared us  in  perfect  harmony.  We  were 
also  delighted  to  learn  that  the  good  women 
had  gathered  for  the  purpose  of  making  a 
flag,  and  we  three,  Red,  White,  and  Blue 
had  been  selected  as  the  most  appropriate 
combination  of  colors  for  the  proposed 
emblem,  and  if  adopted,  we  would  for  all 
time  represent  the  highest  aspirations  of 
the  founders  of  a  new  government. 

No  one  seemed  to  have  the  slightest  idea 
of  the  design  contemplated,  but  we  were 
assured  that  we  were  not  to  be  separated. 
This  decision  filled  us  with  a  great  joy,  and 
had  it  been  possible  for  three  bolts  of  cloth 
to  pray,  we  would  have  done  so  then  and 
there,  in  sheer  gratitude. 

The  ladies  awaited  with  bated  breath  the 
arrival  of  the  committee,  momentarily  ex- 
pected. All  were  elated  when  informed  that 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

General  Washington  was  their  chairman. 
These  charming  creatures  could  not  be 
blamed  for  their  anxiety.  Had  not  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  expressed  the  wish  to  se- 
cure an  appropriate  emblem  ?  And  were  they 
not  assembled  at  the  home  of  Mistress  Ross 
at  the  behest  of  this  body?  Naturally  there 
was  great  excitement  over  an  event  so 
momentous. 

I  will  never,  never,  forget  the  gracious 
praises  bestowed  upon  us  by  these  splendid 
women.  Particularly  gratifying  were  the 
simple  yet  eloquent  words  of  Mistress 
Elizabeth  Ross,  to  whom,  more  than  any 
other  influence,  we  were  to  be  indebted  for 
our  re-creation. 

" Ladies,"  said  one,  whom  I  later  recog- 
nized as  Mistress  Ross,  "this  is  indeed  a 
wonderful  privilege.  We  are  about  to  re- 
ceive a  visit  from  General  George  Washing- 
ton and  a  committee,  commissioned  by  the 
Continental  Congress.  They  are  to  suggest 
a  flag  for  the  new  Republic.  After  the  de- 
sign has  been  agreed  upon  we  are  to  stitch 
it  together.  It  will  then  be  returned  to  the 
committee,  and  by  them  presented  to  Con- 
gress for  final  adoption.  General  Washing- 
ton has,  I  believe,  a  sketch  of  the  proposed 
insignia. 

10 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

"Red,"  continued  Mistress  Ross,  " typi- 
fies hardiness  and  valor;  White,  purity  and 
innocence;  Blue,  vigilance,  perseverance  and 
justice." 

"It  is  such  a  heavenly  blue,"  exclaimed  a 
shortish  lady.  "And  the  White,"  added 
Mistress  Ross,  "as  pure  as  virgin  snow! 
Behold  them,  ladies,  Red,  White,  and  Blue! 
Were  they  not  made  for  each  other?  To- 
gether, they  will  form  a  flag,  for  which  men 
and  women  will  gladly  die.  These  colors  are 
to  be  the  harbingers  of  Liberty  and  Justice. 
These  colors  will  champion  the  right  and 
defend  the  weak.  Such  a  flag  will  guarantee 
to  all  equal  rights.  Beneath  its  sacred  folds 
all  may  openly  worship  God,  each  according 
to  his  will.  So  ladies,  as  it  assumes  form,  let 
each  stitch  emphasize  an  appeal  to  heaven 
for  the  safety  of  every  hand  raised  in  its  de- 
fense. Let  our  work  represent  the  love  and 
devotion  of  the  wives,  mothers,  and  sisters 
of  men  who,  by  their  loyalty  and  sacrifice 
make  possible  a  free  and  happy  people." 

At  this  moment  a  knock  was  heard,  and 
Mistress  Ross,  amid  a  joyful  chorus  of 
"Oh's"  and  "Ah's"  crossed  the  room  and 
opening  the  door,  ushered  in  the  belated 
committee,  composed  of  General  George 
Washington,    Robert    Morris   and   Colonel 

n 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

George  Ross.  After  an  exchange  of  courte- 
sies, General  Washington  drew  a  paper  from 
the  pocket  of  his  great  coat,  and  presented 
to  those  assembled  a  rough  sketch  of  the 
proposed  flag. 

"You  will  observe,"  said  Washington,  as 
he  displayed  the  penciled  outline,  "we  re- 
tain the  thirteen  alternate  stripes  of  red  and 
white,  originally  found  in  the  flag  of  the 
East  India  Company,  chartered  by  Queen 
Elizabeth  in  the  year  1600.  I  may  add  that 
no  less  a  person  than  Benjamin  Franklin  in- 
formed me;  "That  it  was  fortunate  for  us 
that  there  was  already  a  flag,  with  which 
the  British  Government  was  familiar,  and 
which  is  not  only  recognized,  but  protected.' 

"You  will  undoubtedly  recall  the  fact  that 
the  red  and  white  alternate  stripes  of  the 
East  India  Company's  flag,"  continued  the 
General  impressively,  "were  selected  quite 
recently  for  the  *  Cambridge  Flag,'  better 
and  more  affectionately  known  as  the  'Flag 
of  the  Union,'  first  raised  by  Captain  John 
Paul  Jones,  December  3rd,  1775;  and  later 
at  my  headquarters  at  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts, January  2nd,  1776. 

"There  are  several  reasons  why  these 
stripes  should  be  retained,  the  most  import- 
ant of  which  is,  that  the  colonies  selected 

12 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

them  as  favorable  for  combined  representa- 
tion. They  were  placed  in  the  *  Cambridge 
Flag'  in  the  hope  of  impressing  the  world 
that  the  Federation  of  the  Colonies  was  a 
deliberate  action;  furthermore,  that  the 
Colonies  so  united  were  at  that  time  loyal 
to  the  Mother  Country.  We  proved  this  by 
placing  the  crosses  of  St.  Andrew  and  St. 
George  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner  of  the 
design.  But  we  have  now  determined  to 
obtain  our  independence;  we  will  no  longer 
submit  to  unjust  taxation;  we  resent  the 
many  indignities  heaped  upon  us  by  our 
royal  masters  and  propose  to  repudiate  the 
crosses,  and  in  their  place  suggest  a  field  of 
blue,  flecked  with  glistening  stars  of  white, 
emblematic  of  the  redemption,  aye,  the  sal- 
vation of  human  liberty.  Ladies,  we  present 
for  consideration,  this  sketch,  which  in- 
cludes the  thirteen  alternative  red  and 
white  stripes,  together  with  this  field  of 
blue,  containing  thirteen  white  stars,  one  for 
each  colony;  four  in  the  first  or  top  row;  five 
in  the  second  or  middle  row;  and  four  in  the 
third  or  bottom  row,  correctly  representing 
the  thirteen  united  colonies  forming  the  new 
Republic." 

"General,"  said  Mistress  Ross,  as  she  in- 
tently studied  Washington's  design,  "you 

13 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

have  selected  a  star  of  six  points,  why  not 
one  of  five?" 

"I  am  afraid,  Mistress  Ross,"  answered 
the  General,  "that  one  of  five  points  will 
look  awkward,  out  of  proportion." 

"I  assure  you,  General,  one  of  five  points 
will  not  appear  ungainly  or  out  of  propor- 
tion," replied  Mistress  Ross,  as  she  dexter- 
ously folded  a  bit  of  paper,  and  with  a  single 
clip  of  her  scissors,  cut  a  perfect  five-pointed 
star. 

"Splendid,  excellent,"  exclaimed  the  sur- 
prised and  delighted  Washington,  "it  is  the 
very  thing;  look  gentlemen,  is  it  not  per- 
fect?" 

So  it  was  unanimously  agreed  that  the 
five-pointed  star  should  replace  the  one  of 
six,  and  after  the  width  and  length  of  the 
red  and  white  stripes,  as  well  as  the  dimen- 
sions of  the  blue  field,  which  was  to  contain 
the  thirteen  white  five-pointed  stars,  were 
agreed  upon,  the  committee  thanked  the 
gracious  ladies  for  their  interest,  and  de- 
parted, leaving  behind  them  a  group  of 
happy  women  who  were  first  to  fashion  and 
then  sew  together  the  emblem  of  a  mighty 
nation. 


14 


NARRATIVE  III. 


1111111  I inilllllllllllllll I llll III lllllllllllllll I  I  I  I M I  I  I  III  II lllllllllllllll     llll II  I  II 

The  welding  together  of  all  our  national 
life  assures  unity.  This  is  the  cornerstone 
of  our  political  liberty;  it  is  the  very  es- 
sence of  truth  and  justice;  that  truth  and 
justice  reflected  in  the  folds  of  the  Flag  of 
the  United  States. 

milium iiiiiim  in  iiiiiiiiiiiiin  1 1  mi  n  ill  :iiiiliini:iiiiui   nil  minium 


^ 


N 


NARRATIVE  III. 

EVER  was  a  flag  born  at  a  more  oppor- 
tune moment.  The  gallant  American 
Army  was  thought  to  be  broken  beyond  re- 
covery. Turn  to  the  eloquent  pages  of  our 
country's  history  and  let  us  together  read 
the  record  of  personal  sacrifice  made  by 
courageous  men  and  women,  who  suffered 
and  endured,  that  you  and  I  might  enjoy 
the  blessed  privileges  of  American  citizen- 
ship. 

The  Continental  forces  led  by  the  redoubt- 
able Washington  were  thought  to  be  beaten. 
There  remained  but  a  handful  of  poorly 
disciplined,  imperfectly  armed  men,  so 
destitute  of  clothes,  that  many  froze  to 
death  while  on  duty.  Others  stained  the 
snow  with  the  blood  that  freely  flowed  from 
their  bruised  and  naked  feet.  These  men, 
to  obtain  the  liberties  we  enjoy  today,  must 
meet  and  conquer  a  well  trained  and  superb- 
ly armed  force,  well  fed  and  officered.  I  re- 
call the  scene  as  if  it  were  yesterday,  when 
I  was  first  presented  to  these  intrepid  men. 
They  greeted  me  with  great  enthusiasm. 
They  smiled  through  their  tears  as  I  floated 

17 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

before  tliem.  They  came  from  out  their  rude 
shelters,  proclaiming  me  the  harbinger  of 
victory.  Many  knelt  in  the  snow  and  ice 
praying  to  Almighty  God  for  the  triumph 
that  would  assure  them  freedom  of  thought 
and  action. 

I  run  before  my  horse  to  market;  I  must 
not  neglect  to  mention  a  few  events  preced- 
ing my  birth.  We  are  so  very  apt  to  over- 
look important  facts  unless  we  continually 
hold  ourselves  in  check. 

Immediately  after  the  gentlemen  com- 
prising the  committee  had  departed  the 
ladies  began  work  upon  the  proposed  flag. 
The  sharp  clip  of  a  pair  of  scissors  brought 
me  to  myself.  I  realized  that  Mistress  Ross 
and  her  patriotic  aids  were  engaged  in  cut- 
ting and  basting  together  the  red  and  white 
stripes  and  shaping  the  blue  which  was  to 
contain  the  thirteen  five-pointed  stars  of 
white. 

Never  will  I  forget  the  secrecy  surround- 
ing my  birth.  A  short  time  preceding  this 
event  we  were  three  bolts  of  cloth  in  far-off 
England.  We  had  leaped  from  obscurity 
into  the  realm  of  a  wonderful  present  and 
future.  It  was  indeed  enough  to  turn  the 
head  of  a  more  experienced  texture. 

18 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

With  anxious  hands,  Mistress  Ross  and 
her  associates  completed  their  task,  and  as 
she  held  me  aloft,  after  the  last  stitch  had 
been  taken,  a  beam  of  sunlight  burst 
through  the  window  and  bathed  me  with  a 
flood  of  golden  light. 

"Ok,  you  beautiful  Flag,"  ske  exclaimed, 
"with  all  my  soul  I  love  you.  God  grant  that 
you,  dear  Flag,  will  lead  us  to  an  honorable 
victory.  You  are  to  be  dedicated  to  the 
cause  of  liberty,  and  may  your  influence  en- 
circle the  earth.  Guard  us,  0  Flag,  and  lead 
us  forever  in  the  path  of  sympathy  and 
service." 

It  would  be  useless  to  attempt  to  express 
the  feeling  of  exultation  that  took  posses- 
sion of  me.  Little  did  I  realize  in  this  hour 
of  glory  that  I  would  one  day  suffer  many 
bitter  experiences;  ordeals  that  would  crush 
and  wound.  It  was  well  for  me  that  I  could 
not  penetrate  the  future  for  I  would  have 
deemed  myself  unequal  to  the  task.  It  is 
well  that  I  did  not  forsee  the  suffering  and 
privation  that  must  be  endured  before  my 
defenders  would  enjoy  the  liberty  sought. 

Lost  in  the  joy  of  the  moment  I  knew 
notking  of  tke  migkty  clask  of  contending 
forces;  of  tke  kunger,  disease,  and  deatk.    I 

19 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

knew  nothing  of  the  citizen  who,  under  the 
cloak  of  patriotism,  would  rob,  cheat,  and 
even  kill  his  fellow-man  for  gain.  I  was  a 
stranger  to  the  men  who  would  devise 
vicious  and  cowardly  attacks  upon  recog- 
nized authority.  I  little  dreamed  that  dis- 
contented States  would  one  day  seek  the 
destruction  of  the  Union  formed.  I  did  not 
think  it  possible  for  justice  to  be  mocked  and 
law  defied.  I  did  not  realize  that  hearts  were 
to  be  broken;  that  the  assassin  would  plunge 
the  nation  into  the  depths  of  sorrow  from 
which  we  would  emerge  soaring,  Phoenix- 
like, above  the  ashes  of  disloyalty,  disobedi- 
ence, ignorance,  superstition  and  greed. 

It  is  little  wonder  then  that  this  day  of 
days  impressed  me.  We  were  no  longer  bolts 
of  cloth;  we  had  lost  our  original  identity  as 
Bed,  White  and  Blue,  and  had  become  the 
Flag  of  the  United  States.  We  were  no 
longer  separate  units.  We  were  forever 
united.  We  were  one;  joined  in  a  common 
cause,  and  like  the  citizens  of  the  new  Re- 
public, inseparable. 

In  the  midst  of  my  rejoicing,  a  sudden 
fear  took  possession  of  me.  Suppose  the 
Continental  Congress,  to  which  I  was  to  be 
presented,  should  reject  me.  This  would  be 
indeed  a  personal  calamity.  Did  I  correctly 

20 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

represent  the  principles  they  espoused?  As 
many  such  questions  passed  through  my 
mind,  I  became  exercised  over  their  possible 
decision,  and  wished  the  matter  settled 
quickly.  The  suspense  was  well-nigh  un- 
bearable for  I  fully  realized  that  no  matter 
what  might  be  said  in  my  favor  the  final 
settlement  rested  entirely  in  the  hands  of 
the  representatives  of  the  people. 

All  things  must  end,  and  the  hour  of  my 
presentation  to  the  Continental  Congress 
drew  near.  It  was  a  period  filled  with 
anxiety.  I  was  finally  placed  upon  a  staff 
and  incased  in  a  covering  of  soft  material. 
Soon  I  felt  myself  carried  forward.  There 
was  a  hum  of  voices,  a  sudden  stillness.  Be- 
fore I  had  time  to  realize  what  had  hap- 
pened my  covering  was  suddenly  removed 
and  I  was  disclosed  to  every  eye. 

First,  I  was  received  in  silence  followed 
by  a  mighty  cheer.  "Hail,  thrice  hail,  oh 
glorious  Flag  of  liberty,"  shouted  a  portly 
gentleman  as  he  struggled  forward. 

"Long  may  you  wave  o'er  land  and  sea, 
the  emblem  of  justice  and  equality,' '  cried 
another. 

When  quiet  was  restored,  some  one  sug- 
gested a  re-arrangement  of  the  stars  in  my 

21 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

field  of  blue.  "It  seems  to  me,"  declared  the 
gentleman,  "that  as  the  stars  now  appear, 
in  three  straight  rows,  four  on  the  top;  five 
in  the  middle;  and  four  on  the  bottom;  they 
give  no  idea  of  the  unity  of  our  purpose.  I 
therefore  suggest  that  the  stars  be  placed  in 
an  unbroken  circle,  signifying  a  unanimity 
of  interest,  and  an  indisputable  union  of  the 
colonies." 

"A  most  excellent  idea,"  replied  some  one. 
And  so  it  was  agreed.  I  was  returned  to  the 
home  of  Mistress  Ross;  the  stars  altered  as 
proposed,  and  again  presented  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress.  On  the  14th  day  of  June, 
1777,  amid  scenes  of  great  rejoicing  I  was 
officially  proclaimed  the  Flag  of  the  United 
States. 

In  justice  to  myself  I  should  add  a  few 
important  facts  concerning  my  progress. 
When  first  ratified  by  Congress  I  had  thir- 
teen white  stars  in  an  unbroken  circle  upon 
my  field  of  blue,  and  thirteen  alternate 
stripes  of  red  and  white.  The  admission  of 
two  more  States,  Vermont  on  March  4th, 
1791;  and  Kentucky  on  June  1st,  1792, 
changed  this. 

It  was  natural  that  these  States  should 
seek  recognition  in  the  national  Flag,  so  on 
January  13th,  1794,  Congress  passed  an  act 

22 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

authorizing  that  I  consist  of  fifteen  alter- 
nate stripes  of  red  and  white,  and  a  corre- 
sponding number  of  stars.  This  abolished 
the  unbroken  circle  and  my  stars  appeared 
in  five  rows  of  three  stars  in  each  row.  I 
then  became  known  as  the  "Fort  McHenry 
Flag." 

In  this  form  I  remained  up  to  and  through 
the  war  of  1812,  and  it  was  not  until  April 
14th,  1818  that  I  was  again  changed.  The 
admission  into  the  Union  of  Tennessee, 
June  1st,  1796;  Ohio,  November  29th,  1802; 
Louisiana,  April  30th,  1812;  Indiana,  De- 
cember 11th,  1816;  and  Mississippi,  Decem- 
ber 10th,  1817,  made  the  alteration  neces- 
sary. 

A  Congressional  committee,  duly  appoint- 
ed, suggested  the  addition  of  five  stars  and 
five  stripes.  But  this  was  found  to  be  im- 
practicable. It  was  evident  that  if  this  rule 
were  continued,  the  result  would  be  an 
awkward,  unwieldy  ensign.  After  a  year  of 
debate  it  was  decided  to  reduce  the  num- 
ber of  stripes  from  fifteen,  to  the  original 
number  of  thirteen,  and  to  add  stars  alone 
as  required.  This  met  with  general  ap- 
proval and  I  then  became  firmly  established 
on  the  14th  of  April,  1818. 

23 


NARRATIVE  IV. 


■■■■■■■■■lllllilllllll III.  Ill  1 1 II  Ml IIMMIIIII  II  III  lllllilllllll Ill) 

The  Flag  of  the  United  States  stands 
for  righteousness,  and  so  points  the  way  to 
moral  leadership.  Firm  as  a  rock  it  stands, 
exemplifying  the  fundamental  principles  of 
self-government. 

II I  llll  III  I  II  I ■■■■Ml  lllllilllllll I  I  I  II  I  I  •  I  I  !  1  II  II  I  I || 


NARRATIVE  IV. 

I  HAVE  endeavored  to  tell  you,  my  friend, 
in  my  own  way,  the  stirring  events  that 
crowded  my  youthful  years  and  as  I  have 
but  recently,  June  14th,  1921,  celebrated 
my  one  hundred  and  forty-fourth  birthday, 
I  feel  that  it  is  necessary  to  devote  a  few 
moments  to  my  several  relations. 

Even  a  Flag  should  know  something  of  its 
progenitors,  and  it  is  therefore  not  unnat- 
ural for  me  to  investigate  my  ancestors.  I 
frankly  confess  that  before  I  assumed  the 
task  I  had  no  idea  of  the  number  of  Flags 
claiming  relationship.  I  am  further  com- 
pelled to  add  that  it  has  been  quite  em- 
barassing  for  me  to  acknowledge  the  slight 
relationship  to  some,  after  becoming  ac- 
quainted with  their  past. 

In  seeking  a  starting  point,  let  us  refer  to 
the  world's  history,  in  order  that  the  origi- 
nal Flag  may  be  revealed. 

In  a  manuscript  known  as  "The  Book  of 
Knowledge  of  all  the  Kingdoms,  Countries, 
and  Lordships,  that  there  are  in  the  World, 
and  of  the  Ensigns  and  Arms  of  each  Coun- 
try and  Lordships,  Etc.,  Etc.,"  written  by 

27 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

an  anonymous  Franciscan  friar,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  before  Columbus  dis- 
covered America,  this  interesting  fact  was 
disclosed. 

"There  are  in  the  Kingdom  of  Castile, 
twenty-eight  cities,  and  many  other  towns, 
castles,  and  villages. 

"Know  that  this  Kingdom  of  Castile  and 
Leon,  has  all  the  sea  coast  of  the  west,  as  far 
as  Bayona  the  Greater,  and  borders  on 
Navarre  and  Aragon,  and  Granada. 

"The  ensign  of  the  kings  of  this  Kingdom 
is  a  Flag  with  two  Castles  and  two  Lions, 
quarterly." 

It  appears  to  me  that  this  flag  mentioned 
by  the  old  friar  was  closely  related  to  the 
Royal  Standard  of  Spain  carried  by  Colum- 
bus when  he  first  landed  upon  the  shores  of 
the  new  world  October  12th,  1492. 

It  is  also  recorded  that  about  the  year 
1000,  four  hundred  and  ninety  years  prior 
to  the  landing  of  Columbus,  the  Norse  navi- 
gators headed  by  Lief  Ericisson,  known  as 
"Eric  the  Red,"  visited  the  eastern  coast  of 
the  new  world  carrying  a  banner  of  white, 
upon  which  appeared  "a  raven  with  open 
bill  and  extended  wings." 

In  the  face  of  all  evidence  found  concern- 
ing the  "Norse"  navigators,  there  is  no  posi- 
tive record  of  their  having  unfurled  a  ban- 
ner upon  American  soil. 

28 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

During  the  First  Crusade  in  the  east  in 
1095,  Pope  Urban  II,  assigned  to  all  Chris- 
tion  nations  crosses,  varying  in  color  and 
design,  to  be  used  by  them  as  standards, 
emblematic  of  the  warfare  in  which  they 
were  engaged.  To  the  Scotch,  he  gave  the 
white  cross  of  St.  Andrew,  on  a  blue  field. 
The  English  received  a  yellow  cross  but  a 
century  later  adopted  a  red  cross  on  a  white 
field.  This  was  known  as  the  cross  of  St. 
George. 

When  James  VI  of  Scotland  ascended  the 
throne  of  England  as  James  I,  he  combined 
the  crosses  in  1606  and  ordered  all  ships  to 
carry  the  new  Flag.  At  that  time  the  vessels 
of  South  Britain  floated  the  red  cross  of  St. 
George,  and  the  ships  of  North  Britain,  the 
white  cross  of  St.  Andrew. 

The  new  flag,  a  combination  of  the 
crosses,  was  known  as  the  " Great  Union,' ' 
and  later  the  " Union  Jack."  Although  this 
flag  was  in  use  a  considerable  time,  it  was 
not  until  1707  that  Parliament  passed  an  act 
definitely  establishing  it. 

In  the  same  year  the  British  government 
instructed  the  navy  to  use  what  is  known  as 
the  "White  Ensign,"  the  combined  crosses 
of  St.  Andrew  and  St.  George  in  the  upper 
left  hand  corner  of  a  white  field.  The  ships 

29 


THE    FLAG    OP    OUR    COUNTRY 


forming  the  division  now  known  as  the 
naval  reserve  carried  the  crosses  in  the  same 
position  on  a  blue  field;  and  the  vessels  en- 
gaged in  commerce,  the  cross  design  upon  a 
red  field. 

During  the  colonial  period  the  "Red 
Ensign/'  or  merchants  flag,  was  the  one 
most  frequently  seen  and  therefore  was 
naturally  looked  upon  by  the  colonists  as 
the  flag  of  the  Mother  Country.  It  might 
be  well  to  inform  the  reader  that  there  was 
considerable  opposition  to  these  cross  flags, 
many  believing  their  use  idolatrous.  In 
1635,  a  body  of  Massachusetts  troops  re- 
fused to  march  beneath  a  flag  upon  which 
appeared  a  cross,  and  military  authorities 
were  compelled  to  design  a  more  acceptable 
standard. 

Massachusetts  was  among  the  first  colon- 
ies to  adopt  a  "Liberty  Tree"  flag.  It  was  a 
white  field  with  a  narrow  stripe  of  blue  on 
the  top  and  bottom  edges,  while  in  the  centre 
appeared  a  green  tree  surmounted  with  the 
words  "Liberty  Tree/'  and  over  the  bottom 
stripe  of  blue,  and  extending  across  the  field 
beneath  the  tree,  the  solemn  motto:  "An 
Appeal  to  God.' ' 

The  Southern  colonies  selected  the  rattle- 
snake as  the  emblem  of  vigilance  and  cour- 

30 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

age,  and  South  Carolina,  added  the  signifi- 
cant words,  " Don't  Tread  On  Me."  Our 
first  "Navy  Jack,"  hoisted  by  John  Paul 
Jones  on  the  Alfred,  December  3rd,  1776, 
was  an  example  of  these  remarkable  flags. 

I  recall  at  this  moment  a  conversation 
held  between  Benjamin  Franklin  and  Gen- 
eral Washington  December  13th,  1775,  in 
regard  to  the  adoption  of  the  alternative 
stripes  of  red  and  white  for  the  proposed 
flag  of  the  young  Republic.  The  former 
said,  "  While  the  field  of  the  ensign  under 
consideration  must  be  new  in  the  details  of 
its  design,  it  need  not  be  entirely  new  in  its 
elements.  It  is  fortunate  for  us  that  there 
is  already  in  use  a  flag  with  which  the  Eng- 
lish government  is  familiar,  and  which  is 
not  only  recognized  but  protected.  I  refer 
to  the  flag  of  the  East  India  Company." 

To  me  this  is  conclusive  evidence  that  this 
flag,  containing  the  thirteen  alternate  red 
and  white  stripes,  was  the  parent  of  the 
Flag  of  the  United  States  made  certain  by 
the  adoption  of  the  stripes  in  the  "  Cam- 
bridge Flag." 

The  first  distinctly  American  Flag  in  de- 
sign, known  as  the  "Fort  Moultrie  Flag," 
was  displayed  in  September,  1775.  It  was  a 
blue  field  with  a  white  crescent  in  the  upper 

31 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

left  hand  quarter  and  just  over  the  lower 
edge  appeared  the  strikingly  appropriate 
word  "Liberty,"  also  in  white. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  up  to  this 
time  the  colonists  did  not  seek  a  common 
standard.  They  had  accepted  without  ques- 
tion the  "Red  Ensign"  of  Great  Britain. 
But  they  wished  for  something  distinctive, 
something  wholly  representative.  This  they 
accomplished  by  adopting  the  red  and  white 
stripes  of  the  "East  India  Company's" 
standard,  and  placing  the  crosses  of  St. 
Andrew  and  St.  George  in  the  upper  left 
hand  quarter  of  the  flag. 

This  ensign  was  known  as  the  "Flag  of 
the  Union"  or  "The  Cambridge  Flag,"  and 
was  first  hoisted  upon  the  ship  of  Com- 
modore Hopkins,  the  "Alfred,"  by  John 
Paul  Jones,  December  3rd,  1775,  and  later 
by  General  Washington  at  his  hedquarters 
at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  January  2nd, 
1776. 

In  this  form  the  Flag  remained  until  the 
colonies  declared  their  independence.  They 
then  rejected  the  crosses  of  St.  Andrew  and 
St.  George  and  in  their  place  inserted  the 
blue  field,  containing  the  thirteen  five- 
pointed  stars  of  hope. 

32 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

This  completes  my  personal  investiga- 
tions. I  have  attempted  in  my  humble  way, 
to  follow  the  shortest  path  leading  to  my 
progenitors.  I  hope  that  doubts  regarding 
the  circumstances  surrounding  my  birth 
are  now  satisfactorily  dispelled. 

One  truth  is  evident.  I  was  not  an  instan- 
taneous production,  but  the  direct  result  of 
suffering  and  sacrifice.  From  the  beginning 
of  my  career  I  have  represented  the  aspira- 
tions and  achievements  of  loyal  men  and 
women  who  were  alone  responsible  for  my 
coming. 


33 


NARRATIVE  V. 


Illllllllllllf lllllllllltllltlllllllll 


Live  and  breathe  the  spirit  of  Justice 
and  Equality.  Desire  only  that  which  is 
rightfully  thine.  Stand  squarely  upon  the 
rock  of  decency,  and  by  your  action  en- 
courage a  just  and  honorable  manhood. 

Illllllllllllll  III  I  IIIIII1IMIIIIIIMIIIIM>IIIIMHIIIIIIMII!IIIIIIIIHMII1I  MIIMIMI 


NARRATIVE  V. 

NO  SOONER  had  I  reached  my  22nd 
birthday  than  I  was  plunged  into  my 
first  great  sorrow.  This  was  in  1799.  I  pre- 
sume, my  friend,  you  will  deny  this  possi- 
bility and  declare  it  ridiculous  for  me  a  flag, 
to  be  susceptible  to  emotion  of  any  char- 
acter. 

Before  you  decide,  let  us  analyze  my  rela- 
tionship to  yourself.  You  will  then  the  bet- 
ter appreciate  my  attitude.  I  have  only  to 
remind  you  that  I  am  the  Flag  of  the  United 
States.  Is  not  this  enough  to  convince  you 
that  I  really  live,  feel,  and  know?  Why,  my 
dear  friend  I  am  yourself.  Your  heart  is  my 
heart;  your  soul,  my  soul;  I  am  your 
thoughts,  your  ambition.  If  you  are  weak, 
I  am  no  longer  strong;  if  you  are  selfish,  I 
am  no  longer  charitable;  if  you  are  unjust,  I 
become  the  oppressor.  Your  loyalty  to  your 
government  can  only  be  measured  by  your 
loyalty  to  me. 

So  when  I  speak  of  my  joys  and  sorrows, 
it  is  because  I  am  the  throb  of  the  national 
heart;  the  hope,  the  strength,  of  the  national 
character.   I  am  the  essence  of  Justice  es- 

37 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

tablished  by  Law.  Then  why  should  I  not 
be  susceptible  to  human  emotions  ?  Does  not 
this  hypothesis  prove  my  power  to  feel? 

Without  further  argument  I  recall  the 
profound  grief  I  suffered  at  the  loss  of  my 
more  than  friend,  General  George  Wash- 
ington. It  was  not  alone  an  irreparable  loss 
to  me,  but  a  mighty  blow  to  civilization.  I 
loved  this  truly  great  man;  this  unselfish 
patriot,  whose  first  and  last  thought  was 
loyalty  to  his  country. 

Oh,  Washington,  Washington,  I  will  never 
forget  your  great  affection  for  me,  the  Flag 
of  the  United  States.  I  will  ever  stand  the 
reflector  of  thy  will.  At  thy  grave  you  will 
find  me  the  symbol  of  all  you  would  have 
me,  the  invincible  harbinger  of  human 
liberty. 

I  do  not  wish  to  convey  the  thought  that  I 
do  not  mourn  the  loss  of  all  who  gave  their 
lives  for  me,  that  vast  army  of  unknown 
dead,  who  died  that  I  might  live.  Each  foot 
of  earth  in  which  they  rest  is  sanctified  by 
their  blood,  forever  and  forever. 

It  is  my  duty  to  see  that  you,  my  friend, 
do  not  forget  the  priceless  blood  and  treas- 
ure that  made  certain  the  birth  and  per- 
petuity of  the  Federal  Union. 

38 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

My  second  great  grief  was  the  death  of 
Alexander  Hamilton,  occurring  in  1805,  at 
the  hands  of  that  political  outcast,  Aaron 
Burr,  who,  disowned  by  his  State,  experi- 
enced the  just  fate  of  the  insincere  scoun- 
drel who  stopped  at  nothing  to  secure  his 
ends.  His  despicable  intrigues  forced  the 
great  patriot  Hamilton  to  defend  his  honor 
with  his  life,  and  Burr,  the  despised  and 
hated  Burr,  finally  paid  his  debt  to  Heaven 
and  the  Republic.  Detested  at  home;  loathed 
abroad;  driven  from  England;  expelled  from 
France;  he  became  a  penniless  wanderer 
and  returning  to  the  country  he  had  out- 
raged, died  a  lonely  broken  man. 

In  1865,  at  the  height  of  a  glorious  career, 
with  the  unity  of  the  States  assured  and 
peace  once  more  established,  Abraham 
Lincoln  fell  mortally  wounded,  the  victim  of 
assassination. 

Never  did  a  nation  experience  so  pro- 
found a  grief.  Lincoln  the  Emancipator, 
the  savior  of  the  Republic,  found  in  death 
the  peace  he  craved.  Although  dead,  the 
memory  of  his  noble  words,  his  generous 
deeds,  will  be  recalled  again  and  again  as 
long  as  the  mind  of  man  endures. 

The  world  was  again  shocked  and  stunned 
in    1881    by    the    untimely    death    of    our 

39 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

twentieth  President  of  the  United  States, 
James  A.  Garfield.  Once  again  the  assassin 
robbed  the  government  of  a  great  and  good 
man;  a  Christian  gentleman,  and  a  true 
patriot,  whose  public  and  private  life  will 
ever  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  ornaments 
of  our  national  life. 

The  third  President  to  meet  death  in  a 
similar  manner  was  William  McKinley,  who 
passed  away  September  14th,  1901.  It  was 
said  of  him,  "He  fought  like  a  hero;  wrought 
like  a  statesman;  lived  like  a  Christian  and 
died  like  a  philosopher. ' ' 

As  I  recall  the  unfortunate  circumstances 
surrounding  the  untimely  deaths  of  these 
patriots,  there  appears  nothing  to  justify 
acts  so  base.  These  great  men  were  raised 
to  posts  of  honor  by  the  citizens  of  a  free 
nation  and  had  been  guilty  of  no  wrong. 
Their  thought,  aim  and  effort  was  to  multi- 
ply the  blessings  of  human  liberty.  Yet  they 
died  the  victims  of  ignorance,  hatred  and 
disloyalty.  Let  us  see  to  it  that  they  did 
not  die  in  vain. 

In  1919  came  the  loss  of  the  great  Ameri- 
can, Theodore  Roosevelt.  No  man,  living  or 
dead,  served  his  country  with  greater  fi- 
delity. None  can  question  his  tremendous 
loyalty;  his  great  love  for  me,  the  Flag  of 

40 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

the  United  States.  His  intense  American- 
ism; his  unswerving  allegiance  to  his  gov- 
ernment, was  and  ever  will  be  an  inexhaust- 
ible inspiration  to  his  countrymen. 

Washington,  Hamilton,  Lincoln,  Garfield, 
McKinley,  Roosevelt !  What  illustrious 
names  to  conjure  with.  What  memories 
cluster  about  their  remarkable  personali- 
ties. Each  suffered  with  heroic  fortitude. 
Each  played  well  his  part.  Each  placed  his 
faith  in  Almighty  God.  Each  left  an  im- 
perishable name. 

Let  me,  the  Flag  of  the  United  States, 
always  remind  you  of  the  personal  debt  you 
owe  your  country.  In  memory  of  the  service 
rendered  by  these  men  who  served,  and  in 
serving  died,  give  the  best  within  you.  Exer- 
cise the  rights  of  citizenship.  Become  a 
virile  part  of  the  Union,  a  Union  that  needs 
the  sustaining  force  of  honorable  effort. 

Do  not  misunderstand  me,  I  beg  of  you. 
I  wish  to  harmonize,  not  antagonize.  But  I 
deem  it  a  duty  to  remind  you  that  every 
time  your  eyes  rest  upon  me,  that  you  as 
well  as  I,  have  national  sorrows. 

I  am  but  the  reminder  of  the  devotion, 
sacrifice  and  purpose  of  these  brave  men 
who  breathed  into  our  very  souls  the  spirit 

41 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

of  divine  liberty.  Therefore  I  admonish  you, 
study  the  marvelous  history  of  your  country, 
remembering,  that  legislation  will  not,  nay, 
cannot  make  a  good  citizen.  It  merely 
points  the  way.  The  attainment  rests  solely 
in  the  hands  of  the  individual.  Once  pos- 
sessed with  this  knowledge,  you  should, 
with  patriotic  zeal,  embrace  every  oppor- 
tunity of  thoroughly  knowing  the  United 
States,  and  in  knowing,  serve. 


42 


NARRATIVE  VI. 


111 1  mi! iiiiiiimiiiiiiuim I mi minim iiiiuiiiiiii 

Instill  confidence  in  the  stranger  to  self- 
government  by  doing  all  in  your  power  to 
prove  a  sincere  desire  on  your  part  to  be- 
come a  worthy  advocate  of  the  principles 
involved. 

Americans  are  judged,  not  by  what  they 
say,  but  by  ivhat  they  do.  It  is  well  to  see 
to  it  that  we  do  not  mislead  or  betray 
those  who  seek  to  emulate  our  example. 

■  1 1 1 1  ■  ■  1 1 1 1 1 1  >  1 1 1  ■  ■  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  ■  i  >  1 1 1  >  1 1 1  ■  1 1 1 1 1 1 1  ■  ■■  1 1  >  1 1 1  ■  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 


NARRATIVE  VI. 

ONE  blusterous  morning,  several  months 
after  the  entrance  of  the  United  States 
into  the  World-War  a  poor  itinerant  street 
peddler,  a  recent  arrival  from  over-seas,  en- 
tered a  novelty  house  in  New  York's  whole- 
sale district  and  purchased  a  goodly  number 
of  small  Flags  of  the  United  States,  includ- 
ing the  narrator,  for  the  purpose  of  selling 
us  to  whomever  would  buy.  I  confess  the 
purchaser,  an  old  trader,  had  little  sym- 
pathy for  me  at  this  time.  His  one  thought 
was  profit.  I  was  delighted  to  know,  how- 
ever, that  he  considered  my  market  value  of 
such  importance.  Many  of  my  native-born 
supporters  did  not  give  me  even  this  con- 
sideration. It  also  pleased  me  to  think  that 
my  purchaser,  whoever  he  might  be,  would 
acquire  me,  not  so  much  for  my  beauty,  but 
for  the  principles  inculcated  within  my 
folds. 

It  was  decidedly  interesting  for  me  to 
watch  the  conduct  of  the  people  approached. 
The  pathetic  cry  of  the  peddler,  "Buy  a 
flag,  mister,  buy  a  flag,"  was  not  calculated 
to  be  particularly  appealing.    However,  I 

45 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

was  pleased  to  note  that  even  with  this 
handicap  he  enjoyed  a  considerable  measure 
of  success.  Out  of  the  armful  he  had  pur- 
chased earlier  in  the  day,  I  was  the  only  one 
unsold  at  noon,  and  as  he  was  a  stranger  un- 
used to  our  ways,  I  was  very  glad  of  his 
success. 

He  was  standing  uj)on  the  edge  of  the 
curb,  crying  his  wrares,  trying  to  dispose  of 
me,  the  last  of  his  stock.  Turning  suddenly 
he  unintentionally  struck  a  corpulent  by- 
stander a  feeble  tap  on  the  cheek  with  the 
slender  staff  to  which  I  was  attached.  The 
outraged  citizen  flew  into  a  terrible  passion 
and  viciously  abused  the  trembling  man. 
"You  scum,"  he  exclaimed,  "why  don't  you 
stay  in  the  street  where  you  belong. " 

"Please,"  apologetically  whined  the 
frightened  vendor,  "I'm  sorry,  I  didn't 
mean  to — ."  Before  the  unfortunate  could 
say  more,  the  offended  American  deliber- 
ately pushed  the  old  man  sprawling  into  the 
street. 

From  my  position  in  the  gutter,  I  appeal- 
ed to  each  passer-by  to  assist  us,  yet  none 
heeded  my  appeal,  and  with  smile  or  sneer, 
went  their  several  ways,  unmindful  of  the 
man  from  "over-seas"  or  the  flag  by  his 
side. 

46 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

The  poor  vendor,  like  thousands  of  his 
kind,  must  learn  that  the  brutal,  selfish  ac- 
tion was  un-American;  that  a  true  citizen 
of  the  Republic  is  the  respecter  of  the 
rights  of  others,  and  that  although  I  am  the 
Flag  of  the  United  States,  I  should  not  be 
held  responsible  for  the  conduct  of  every 
boor  who  not  only  disregards  the  sacred 
rights  of  others,  but  denies  the  injunction 
of  the  Master  who  wishes  mankind  to  "love 
thy  neighbor  as  thyself. " 

For  one  hundred  and  forty-four  years  I 
have  tried  to  awaken  within  the  souls  of 
men  a  desire  for  justice  and  equality.  I 
would  prevent  the  deluge  of  blood  and  tears 
occasioned  by  man's  inhumanity  to  man.  I 
would  lessen  the  number  of  widows  and 
orphans  and  forever  abolish  the  staggering 
cost  of  war. 

Unfortunately  civilization  must  learn  in- 
dividually. The  wound  pains  him  most  upon 
whom  the  blow  descends.  Each  must  profit 
by  their  own  bitter  experience.  Unfortu- 
nate as  this  appears,  it  is  the  inexorable  law 
of  human  progress. 

No  sooner  had  my  friend  regained  his 
feet  and  rescued  me  from  impending  dan- 
gers, when  a  well-dressed,  smooth-faced 
man  of  about  forty,  placed  a  kindly  hand 

47 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

upon  his  shoulder  and  conducted  him  around 
the  corner,  and  down  a  less  frequented 
street  where  the}^  might  converse  without 
being  observed. 

"My  poor  friend/'  said  the  smooth-faced 
one,  after  he  had  reached  a  secluded  spot,  "I 
was  a  witness  to  the  great  indignity  inflict- 
ed upon  you,  by  one  of  the  privileged  class. 
I  am  indeed  thankful  that  I  was  not  born  in 
this  detestable  land.  Like  you  I  came  from 
afar.  It  is  well  enough  to  sell  the  flag  you 
hold  in  your  hand  to  such  fools  as  will  buy. 
But  do  not  allow  yourself  to  be  blinded  by 
its  glamour.  It  is  not  the  emblem  for  you, 
my  comrade.  Take  this  pamphlet  to  the  se- 
clusion of  your  home,  and  read  it  carefully. 
Do  not  let  this  rag  of  liberty  lead  you  from 
the  true  path  of  freedom.  Join  with  us  and 
aid  in  securing  the  justice  to  which  the  poor 
are  entitled.  We  must  pave  the  way  for  our 
children.  We  must  not  allow  them  to  be- 
come the  hopeless  slaves  of  their  masters. 
Take  this  information  quickly  and  hide  it, 
for  here  come  the  police. "  After  giving  the 
astonished  peddler  several  tracts,  he  rapidly 
crossed  the  street  and  disappeared. 

What  might  have  been  the  thoughts  of  my 
bemuddled  friend  I  do  not  know  and  I  fear 
I  never  shall,  for  at  this  moment  a  boy  of 

48 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

about  ten,  raced  out  from  one  of  the  many 
doorways  that  lined  the  thoroughfare,  and 
approaching  the  old  man  abruptly  asked, 
"How  much  for  the  flag,  mister ?"  "Ten 
cents"  was  the  indifferent  reply,  and  after 
the  youngster  had  laborously  counted  ten 
pennies,  he  received  me  and  was  gone. 

I  have  always  regretted  this  unceremon- 
ious parting  from  my  aged  friend.  I  wanted 
to  warn  him  against  the  smooth-faced  man. 
It  was  my  desire  to  tell  him  the  story  he 
must  one  day  hear,  must  one  day  understand. 
Perhaps  he  found  his  way  to  honorable  citi- 
zenship. I  hope  he  does  not,  like  others,  seek 
the  destruction  of  the  government  that 
guarantees  the  blessings  of  liberty  for  our- 
selves and  our  posterity.  Who  knows? 

The  boy  re-entered  the  doorway  from 
which  he  had  emerged  and  carried  me  up 
winding,  dirty  stairs,  then  down  a  long  dark 
passage  to  his  home.  Home  ?  It  would  have 
been  far  better  had  I  described  it  as  a  pen, 
for  such  it  turned  out  to  be. 

The  building  in  which  this  pen  or  room 
was  located,  was  in  the  district  known  as 
the  "Ghetto,"  and  I  am  surprised  to  know 
that  there  are  many  of  the  same  character 
in  the  United  States. 

49 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

This  particular  place  in  which  I  was  im- 
prisoned is  called  a  "tenement,"  a  huge 
structure  containing  many  pens  or  rooms  in 
which  people  live.  Had  I  not  better  say 
exists  Some  one  said  in  my  hearing  that 
forty  families  resided  in  this  poorly  lighted 
and  ventilated  building.  I  was  also  informed 
that  one  bath  tub  did  duty  for  all. 

The  boy  walked  the  entire  length  of  the 
dark  passage  before  he  came  to  the  door 
opening  into  his  pen  or  room.  Upon  enter- 
ing he  looked  about  as  if  in  search  of  some 
place  to  put  me.  He  finally  decided  to  tack 
me  against  the  wall,  to  the  right  of  the  door, 
and  directly  in  front  of  a  pile  of  rags.  I 
think  he  selected  this  spot  because  these 
rags  were  his  bed,  and  he  could  see  me  the 
last  thing  at  night  and  the  first  in  the  morn- 
ing. I  am  glad  to  say  that  the  boy  did  not 
drive  the  tacks  sustaining  me,  through  my 
colors,  but  used  them  to  fasten  my  staff,  a 
departure  from  the  usual  custom  I  will  ad- 
mit, but  one  that  I  deeply  appreciate. 

My  position  against  the  wall  prevented 
me  from  seeing  a  very  great  distance  down 
the  dimly  lighted  hallway.  I  did  discover, 
however,  a  water  faucet  just  outside  the 
door  that  supplied  all  residing  upon  this 
particular  floor.    I  was  astonished  to  note 

50 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

that  there  was  no  sink  or  drain  for  carrying 
off  the  drippings.  An  old  battered  and  ex- 
ceedingly dirty  oil  can  stood  beneath  the 
tap.  This  receptacle  was  constantly  over- 
flowing owing  to  a  lack  of  attention.  The 
children,  and  there  were  many,  added  to  the 
unfortunate  condition  and  it  had  become  a 
veritable  slime  of  dirt  and  moisture,  as  well 
as  a  menace  to  health  and  safety. 

The  room  was  very  poorly  furnished.  Op- 
posite the  door  a  curtainless  window  gave  a 
pale  faced  woman  opportunity  for  hanging 
out  the  half -washed  clothes  of  the  children. 
In  the  centre  of  the  floor  stood  a  dilapidated 
kitchen  table  and  four  re-constructed  chairs. 
Behind  the  door  lay  a  musty  mattress,  and 
in  the  opposite  corner  was  the  resting  place 
of  the  boy  who  had  purchased  me. 

On  the  end  of  the  table  was  a  two-burner 
gas  stove  upon  which  had  been  piled  a 
blackened  coffee  pot  and  several  pieces  of 
unwashed  tinware.  Upon  a  newspaper, 
serving  as  a  tablecloth,  were  scattered  plates 
more  or  less  cracked,  containing  remnants 
of  food.  This  completes  the  important  pos- 
sessions about  me.  Now  add  the  insufferable 
heat,  numberless  flies  and  the  unsanitary 
conditions  already  mentioned  and  I  am  sure 
you  will  not  envy  my  isolation. 

51 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

One  evening,  following  an  exceedingly 
warm  afternoon,  I  noticed  that  something 
a  little  out  of  the  ordinary  was  about  to 
occur.  The  people  residing  on  the  several 
floors  were  bustling  in  and  out  of  the  room 
in  which  I  was  imprisoned.  It  was  evident 
that  some  visitor  was  expected.  Willing 
hands  carried  away  the  blankets  and  other 
impediments.  The  table  was  placed  against 
the  wall  and  the  entire  floor  space  filled  with 
chairs  so  arranged  that  those  assembled 
could  face  the  expected  one.  I  also  noticed 
that  the  men  arriving  wore  scarlet  ribbons 
pinned  to  the  lapels  of  their  coats  and  the 
women  a  bit  of  the  same  material  in  their 
hair.  Soon  the  children  announced  the  ex- 
pected one  and  you  may  well  judge  of  my 
surprise  when  I  recognized  in  the  guest  of 
the  evening  none  other  than  the  smooth- 
faced man  who  had  led  my  friend,  the 
peddler,  to  the  obscure  spot  on  the  street. 

After  removing  his  hat  and  cloak,  he 
shook  hands  with  all  present  in  a  very  cor- 
dial manner  and  seemed  delighted  with  the 
attention  shown.  The  greetings  exchanged, 
a  chairman  called  the  meeting  to  order  and 
suggested  sending  the  children  to  the  foot 
of  the  stairs  with  instructions  to  keep  their 
eyes  open  for  the  police.   When  quiet  was 

52 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

restored,  the  smooth-faced  man,  proceeded 
to  address  his  hearers,  as  near  as  I  can  re- 
member as  follows : 

"Comrades:  We  must  prepare  for  the 
great  revolt.  This  boasted  government  has 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  a  select  few.  The 
freedom  they  demand  is  the  freedom  to 
plunder  and  oppress.  It  is  they  who  grind 
you  and  your  rights  beneath  their  feet.  They 
exact  all  you  can  pay  then  deny  you  human 
necessities.  You  seek  a  home,  and  they  give 
you  a  hovel.  Do  not  your  children  require 
food,  clothes  and  education?  Does  not  the 
first  amendment  to  the  Constitution  declare 
that  "Congress  shall  make  no  law  abridg- 
ing the  freedom  of  speech  or  press,  or  the 
right  of  the  people  to  peacefully  assemble?" 
Yet  in  the  face  of  this  statement  are  not 
these  privileges  denied  us?  To  escape  the 
police,  the  thugs  of  the  rich,  are  we  not  com- 
pelled to  meet  secretly  in  the  homes  of  the 
brotherhood?" 

How  long  this  tirade  against  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States  might  have  con- 
tinued, I  am  not  in  a  position  to  know  for  at 
this  moment  a  young  man  wearing  the  uni- 
form of  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces, 
appeared  in  the  doorway.  His  face,  although 
badly  scarred,  beamed  with  eagerness  and 

53 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

hope,  as  he  proudly  disclosed  three  gold 
service  bars  on  the  sleeve  of  his  coat. 

The  smooth-faced  man,  angered  at  the 
sudden  appearance  of  the  soldier,  directed 
his  entire  attention  to  him.  Pointing  his 
ringer  at  him  he  screamed  in  a  frenzy  of 
passion : 

"Look,  my  comrades;  look,  there  stands 
one  of  the  heroic  representatives  of  a  gov- 
ernment that  forcibly  takes  your  sons  and 
orders  them  to  murder  unfortunates.  Look 
upon  the  uniformed  lacke}^  of  his  master! 
Down  with  the  government  that  would  de- 
stroy us!  Down  with  their  constitution! 
Down  with  their " 

For  the  first  time  he  beheld  me  the  flag 
he  loathed  tacked  upon  the  wall.  Now 
thoroughly  enraged  he  sprang  toward  me 
shouting:  "See  that  symbol?  That  cursed 
flag?  Tear  it  from  the  wall!  Let  me " 

Neither  the  sentence  nor  the  action  ever 
finished,  for  quick  as  a  flash  of  light  the 
soldier  seized  the  frenzied  man,  and  hurled 
him  into  the  midst  of  the  startled  brother- 
hood. 

"Don't  lay  your  hand  upon  that  flag," 
warned  the  soldier,  as  he  stooped  to  pick 
up  a  trench  cap  that  had  fallen  to  the 

54 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

floor.  "Stand  back,  every  one  of  you,"  he 
exclaimed,  as  they  moved  menacingly  to- 
ward him.  "I  once  believed  just  such  state- 
ments as  you  have  heard.  I  even  believed 
that  this  flag,  yours  and  mine,  the  one  he 
sought  to  dishonor,  was  the  emblem  of  sel- 
fishness and  greed.  I  was  wrong,  I  learned 
this  '  over  there, '  amid  the  roar  of  battle,  and 
believe  me  I  understand." 

"My  boy!"  exclaimed  an  old  man  as  he 
emerged  from  the  group  and  crossed  to  the 
soldier's  side. 

"Dad,  dear  old  dad,  you  here  with  that 
man?  Oh  dad,  you  don't  understand  I  know 
you  don't;  but  it  will  come  out  all  right  dad, 
sure.  But  where 's  mother?  Not  a  word,  go 
tell  her  I  am  here,  quick  dad,  find  her." 

As  the  old  man  left  the  room  in  search  of 
the  absent  one,  the  soldier  turned  and  faced 
the  astonished  neighbors. 

"You  all  remember  me.  I  may  have 
changed  a  bit;  that  couldn't  be  helped.  But 
I  want  to  say  this  much  to  every  one  of  you. 
Don't  let  men  of  this  type  rob  you  of  the 
protection  of  this  flag.  It  has  required  many 
years  to  build  this  government  of  which  you 
are  a  part.  Would  you  help  these  men  de- 
stroy it  in  a  day?  Don't  forget  that  when 
you  left  your  homes  across  the  sea  and  ar- 

55 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

rived  upon  these  shores — you,  my  friends, 
every  one  of  you,  become  a  part  of  the 
United  States.  You  left  behind  you  every 
association,  every  allegiance.  You  became 
builders,  not  destroyers.  You  came  as  honest 
men,  not  liars  and  rogues.  You  came  to  sup- 
port this  government,  not  to  tear  it  apart. 
From  this  very  hour  you  must  abandon 
these  false  prophets,  they  would  annihilate 
the  opportunities  of  'life,  liberty  and  the 
pursuit  of  happiness.'  Become,  I  beg  of  you, 
worthy  defenders  of  this  flag,  for  it  is  now 
the  Flag  of  your  Country  and  mine." 

"Did  you  get  that,  ye  big  stiff,"  asked  a 
boy  who  had  edged  his  way  to  the  side  of 
the  smooth-faced  man.    "Did  ve  get  that?" 

"Hello  kid.  Where's  mother? " 

"She's  a-comin'  and  a-comin'  strong. 
When  dad  said  you  was  here,  I'll  bet  I  came 
so  fast  my  feet  never  hit  a  step."  Then 
crossing  to  the  smooth-faced  man  the  boy 
continued.  "What  ye  waitin'  fur?  Didn't  yer 
hear  what  me  brudder  said,  huh?" 

"The  kid's  right,  this  is  no  place  for  you, 
and  don't  let  me  find  you  here  again,"  added 
the  soldier,  as  he  placed  his  arm  about  the 
boy  and  drawing  him  affectionately  to  him 
said,  "You  are  all  to  the  merry  kid,  all  to 
the  merry." 

56 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

"  Yes,  but  it  took  me  big  brudder  to  tell  it 
to  Mm.  Gee  Bud,  you  did  tell  it  to  him,  I'll 
tell  the  woild." 

"Where  is  he0?  where  is  he?"  called  an 
anxious  voice  from  out  the  passage.  Quickly 
the  soldier  turned  and  met  the  advancing 
woman  and  mother  and  son  clasped  each 
other  in  eager  arms. 

As  the  smooth-faced  man  passed  through 
the  door,  the  neighbors  gathered  about  the 
re-united  family.  My  last  recollection  was  a 
happy  group  of  men  and  women,  receiving 
their  first  lesson  in  citizenship  from  the  man 
who  knew.  I  enjoyed  their  attempt  to  sing 
with  understanding,  "My  country  'tis  of 
thee,  sweet  land  of  liberty." 

After  all  had  departed,  the  bo}^  crossed  to 
where  I  hung  upon  the  wall,  and  gazing  af- 
fectionately upon  me,  whispered,  half  to  me, 
half  to  himself,  "Gee  Bo,  yer  some  flag,  be- 
lieve me,  some  flag." 


57 


NARRATIVE  VII 


I .minimi ill  1 1!  II I  mi  1 1: Illlllllll  minimum mi 

Defend  the  home,  that  sacred  refuge  of 
love,  respect  and  confidence.  Surround  it 
with  every  possible  protection.  It  is  in 
the  home  that  the  character  of  the  man  or 
■woman  is  formed.  All  that  they  are  or 
ever  will  be  is  traceable  to  the  home. 

The  world  cries  aloud  for  home-bred, 
home-loving  men  and  women  —  men  and 
tvomen  of  vision  and  wisdom  ivho  believe 
in  the  enobling  influence  of  the  American 
home. 

■  ■  mi  in  im i in  ii  in mi  in  inn u 


NARRATIVE  VII. 

I  EEC  ALL  a  certain  judge  whose  upright 
decisions  had  won  for  him  an  enduring 
place  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen.  He 
was  an  intense  American,  and  one  who 
never  lost  the  opportunity  of  impressing  all 
who  came  in  contact  with  him  the  necessity 
for  a  greater  love  of  me. 

He  would  often  declare  that  " justice  is 
purchased  at  the  cost  of  personal  sacrifice 
and  that  good  citizenship  is  based  upon  serv- 
ice to  one's  country.  You  cannot  be  a  good 
citizen  and  withhold  service  and  obedience. 
Our  first  duty  is  to  the  Flag,  symbolic  of 
service  and  obedience.  We  should  know  it; 
understand  it,  and  so  become  worthy  the 
title,  citizen.' ' 

One  day  I  was  idly  swinging  backward 
and  forward  in  his  court  room,  swayed  by 
the  crisp  morning  air.  Glancing  through  the 
open  window,  I  obtained  an  occasional 
glimpse  of  another  flag  like  myself,  sus- 
pended from  a  staff  on  the  building  op- 
posite. It  had  been  left  out  over  night,  and 
the  dawn  disclosed  a  huge  rent  which  ex- 
tended the  entire  length  of  the  color.     In 

61 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

truth,  had  it  not  been  for  the  canvas  hoist, 
the  poor  emblem  would  have  been  torn 
asunder,  the  victim  of  ignorance  and 
neglect. 

I  was  contrasting  the  two  Americans,  my 
patriotic  Judge  and  the  owner  of  my 
wounded  relative  across  the  street,  when 
the  court  room  door  opened  and  a  woman 
timidly  entered.  She  looked  pale,  anxious, 
unhappy;  in  spite  of  this,  she  was  beautiful 
in  form  and  face.  The  woman  walked 
wearily  across  the  courtroom  and  seated 
herself  by  the  open  window,  directly  in 
front  of  me.  As  her  tear-dimmed  eyes 
rested  upon  my  folds  I  cried  aloud  for 
justice  and  sympathy.  Perhaps  she  heard 
my  voice,  perhaps  she  understood. 

I  was  about  to  turn  my  attention  to  my 
wounded  compatriot  across  the  street,  when 
a  business  or  professional  man  of  about 
forty  entered.  Undoubtedly  he  had  not  ex- 
pected to  meet  the  woman,  too  occupied 
with  her  thoughts  to  notice  his  presence.  He 
turned  as  if  to  leave  the  court  room  on  see- 
ing her,  but  as  suddenly  changed  his  mind. 
Removing  his  hat,  he  slowly  crossed  to 
where  the  woman  was  seated  and  extend- 
ing his  hand  said: 

62 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

"May  I  speak  with  you  before  the  case  is 
called  ?" 

The  woman  started  nervously  and  speak- 
ing with  an  effort  replied: 

"There  is  nothing  more  to  say,  John;  why 
prolong  the  agony  !" 

"Because,  Lillian,' '  the  man  looked  to- 
ward the  door,  then  back  to  the  woman. 
"Because  of  the  boy.  I  do  not  think  we  are 
doing  ourselves  justice."  The  woman  raised 
an  expostulating  hand. 

"Listen,  please,  until  I  am  done,"  pleaded 
the  man  in  an  almost  inaudible  voice.  "God 
knows  I  am  trying  to  do  my  duty  now,  if 
never  before.  When  I  told  you  I  loved  you 
it  was  the  truth,  I  swear  it;  and  I  still  love 
you.  Please  listen.  Something  has  caused 
us  to  drift  apart.  We  may  have  acted  hastily, 
foolishly.  I  don't  know  how  it  happened. 
I've  tried  to  analyze  it  all,  without  success. 
It  seems  the  only  sensible  thing  to  do  but 
the  thought  of  it  chills  my  heart. 

"I  feel  as  if  I  stood  at  the  edge  of  a  grave, 
forsaken,  lost.  I  see  drifting  from  me  all 
that  I  had  ever  hoped  for,  slaved  for;  my 
wife,  my  home,  my  boy.  They  may  never 
come  to  me  again.  So  I  determined  to  see 
you,  and  just  talk  things  over,  you  and  I  to- 

63 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

gether;  we  might  find  where  we  erred  and 
perhaps  the  sun  would  shine  again,  if  not 
for  us,  the  boy." 

"But  you  have  been  so  unreasonable, 
cruel.  You  had  your  club,  your  friends, 
your  business,  while  I  remained  always 
alone." 

"Lillian,  I  fear  we  misunderstood;  that 
we  have  never  taken  each  other  into  our  con- 
fidence. Look  at  that  flag  above  us,  dear, 
does  it  not  point  the  way*?  See  its  stars  of 
hope;  its  stripes  of  purity  and  courage;  its 
field  of  loyal  blue.  Does  it  not  acclaim  the 
Union  of  States'?  Then  why  not  the  union 
of  hearts  »" 

"Don't  John,  please  don't!  Can  you  not 
see?  Can  you  not  understand?  It  is  too 
late." 

"It  is  never  too  late  for  justice,"  said  a 
white  haired  man,  who  had  entered  unob- 
served. It  was  my  friend  the  Judge.  He  had 
heard  the  man's  reference  to  me.  He  walked 
proudly  forward,  and  facing  husband  and 
wife,  held  the  battered  stump  of  an  arm  be- 
fore them  and  with  a  voice  trembling  with 
emotion  said: 

"Look,  my  friends,  when  angry  States 
resolved    to    disagree;    when   passion    and 

64 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

hatred  robbed  them  of  reason;  they,  like  you, 
determined  to  go  their  separate  ways.  They 
demanded  a  divorce.  They  forgot  that  the 
result  of  that  separation  meant  the  destruc- 
tion of  our  Federal  Union,  just  as  divorce 
means  the  annihilation  of  your  home,  your 
hope,  your  love.  The  secession  of  States 
meant  the  death  of  loyalty,  freedom,  justice. 
But  all  did  not  believe  in  this  divorcing  of 
States.  To  help  save  the  Union  I  offered  my 
life,  but  Lincoln  only  took  an  arm." 

"My  friends,"  continued  the  Judge,  "sor- 
row has  seared  my  heart  and  tears  have 
chastened  my  soul.  My  wife  and  son,  all  I 
possessed,  sleep  side  by  side  in  a  little 
church  yard,  way  out  west.  Often  in  my 
great  loneliness  I  recall  the  bitter  struggle 
for  success.  How  she  skimped  and  saved 
for  me,  and  the  boy.  How  she  loved  this 
beautiful  flag,  and  how  proud  she  was  of 
me,  when  I  marched  away  to  defend  its 
honor.  Your  reference  to  it  a  moment  ago 
was  as  appropriate  as  it  was  timely.  All  we 
are,  all  we  will  ever  be,  we  owe  to  that  flag. 

"It  pleads  just  as  earnestly  for  an  indi- 
visible home  as  it  did  for  an  indivisible 
Union  of  States.  It  makes  marriage  a  sacred 
responsibility,  not  a  transitory  accommoda- 
tion. I  know  little  of  the  merits  or  demerits 

65 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

of  your  case.  But  I  do  feel  certain,  that  your 
troubles  are  greatly  magnified.  Please  do 
not  interrupt,  as  lawyer  and  jurist  I  have 
had  exceptional  opportunities  to  investigate 
the  various  causes  of  divorce,  and  I  say  in 
all  candor,  that  I  deeply  regret  the  fragility 
of  the  home. 

"  Madam,  I  am  the  uncompromising 
enemy  of  the  wife  who  puts  herself  above 
that  home.  I  cannot  believe  that  God  in- 
tended the  mothers  and  wives  of  men  to  be- 
come social,  political,  commercial,  or  profes- 
sional leaders  at  the  expense  of  that  home. 
I  am  old  fashioned  enough  to  look  upon  our 
women  as  the  unquestioned  queens  of  the 
fireside.  And  say  what  you  will,  the  uncon- 
trovertable  fact  remains  that  the  future 
American  citizen  will  be  the  product  of  that 
home. 

"Our  country's  greatest  need  is  men  and 
women  big  enough,  loj^al  enough,  unselfish 
enough,  to  bear  and  forbear;  to  help  each 
other,  come  weal  or  woe.  There  can  be  no 
advantage;  no  superiority.  In  prosperity  or 
adversity;  sickness  or  health;  life  or  death, 
be  loving,  true.  You  must  not  think  me  a 
meddling  old  man,  I  want  you  to  realize  your 
responsibility."  Slowly  he  walked  to  the 
window,  then  turned  and  faced  both  man 

66 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

and  wife   and   gazing   steadily   into   their 
eyes  asked,  "Is  there  a  child?" 

"A  son,"  faintly  answered  the  woman. 

"A  son?"  repeated  the  Judge,  "a  son?" 

"Yes  Judge,  a  son,"  replied  the  man. 

"Now,  my  friends,  you  shall  listen  to  me. 
What  has  this  innocent  boy  done  to  merit 
this  great  wrong?  Has  he  no  rights?  Must 
he  become  an  outcast?  Is  he  to  be  denied  a 
home  because  you,  his  father,  and  you,  his 
mother,  are  too  selfish  to  care  whether  his 
heart  be  broken  or  not  ? ' ' 

"How  dare  you  address  me  in  this  man- 
ner?" interrupted  the  man  springing  to  his 
feet. 

"How  dare  }^ou  ruin  the  future  of  your 
son?"  replied  the  Judge  calmly.  "Be  seated, 
please.  Is  it  because  you  and  this  lady  have 
become  too  self  centered,  too  timid,  too 
vacillating?  Is  it  possible  that  your  sole 
idea  is  self,  nothing  but  self?  Because  of 
some  wrong,  fancied  or  otherwise,  you  are 
going  to  be  avenged  one  upon  the  other.  You 
intend  to  show  the  other  how  little  you 
care ;  you  are  going  to  teach  each  other  their 
place;  you  have  made  up  }^our  minds  to 
wreck,  destroy,  annihilate.  You,  who  once 
swore  before  your  God,  to  love,  honor,  and 
obey." 

67 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

"And  your  son?  What  effect  will  your 
unnatural  action  have  upon  his  life"?  Will 
it  increase  his  respect  for  the  marriage  rela- 
tion? Will  he  profit  by  this  division  of  affec- 
tion'? Will  he  honor  and  respect  the  father 
and  mother  who  stood  between  him  and  a 
home?  Will  he  admire  your  lack  of  courage 
and  consideration?  One  da}^  he  will  recog- 
nize the  cruel  truth.  The  passion  of  the  par- 
ents was  stronger  than  their  love  for  him. 
Pie  will  know  that  they  cowardly  deserted 
the  being  they  created,  and  his  inheritance 
will  be,  not  the  memory  of  home,  but  a  dis- 
torted vision  of  selfishness,  disrespect,  and 
cruelty." 

"Such  justice  as  ye  give  unto  others,  shall 
also  be  given  unto  you.  If  you  must  sepa- 
rate, it  is  well  that  you  know  the  price.  Turn 
your  boy  from  you,  the  victim  of  an  unhappy 
union.  Teach  him  to  hate,  regret  and  die, 
lacking  the  inspiring  love  of  a  united  par- 
entage. My  friends  I  have  done."  Quickly 
the  aged  man  moved  toward  the  door  of  his 
chamber  and  would  have  entered,  had  not 
the  unhappy  woman  cast  herself  before  him. 

"Judge,  please,  please  hear  me;  I  have 
been  selfish;  wrong;  foolish  perhaps,  but 
now  I  understand,  I  understand." 

68 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

The  man  crossed  to  the  side  of  the  weep- 
ing woman  and  tenderly  raised  her  in  his 
arms. 

"My  friend,  the  fault  has  been  equally 
mine,  she  is  not  alone  to  blame."  Then  ad- 
dressing the  woman  he  continued,  "Lillian, 
let  us  begin  again,  if  not  for  ourselves,  for 
the  boy." 

"Yes  John,"  replied  the  wife,  "and  you 
will  help  me,  won't  you  John?" 

"Yes  dear."  Husband  and  wife  now 
grasped  the  Judge's  hand  in  silence,  turned, 
and  slowly  passed  through  the  swinging 
doors,  in  search  of  the  boy. 

At  the  window  facing  me  stood  a  white 
haired  man.  He  extended  a  crippled  arm  to- 
ward me  as  he  murmured, ' '  Oh  glorious  flag 
of  justice  and  equality,  continue  to  be  my 
inspiration  and  my  guide!" 


69 


NARRATIVE  VIII. 


1 1  mi  ill i i  ilium inn mini  in  mini i 


We  must  see  to  it  that  there  be  no  divi- 
sion of  loyalty  among  those  who  enter  our 
ports.  We  have  generously  opened  our 
gates,  but  as  they  cross  our  portals  each 
must  be  informed  that  unless  they  become 
AMERICAN  in  word,  thought  and  deed  it 
would  be  far  better  had  they  remained  at 
home. 


mm  inn  i mil  III I iiiuiii ill 


NARRATIVE  VIII. 

I  AM  reminded  of  the  personal  experience 
of  one  member  of  my  family,  who  had  the 
good  fortune  to  be  returned  to  the  United 
States  after  being  sent  abroad.  My  relative 
also  had  the  honor  of  securing  a  loyal  citi- 
zen and  adding  much  to  the  happiness  of 
many.  But  here  is  the  strange  story,  as  re- 
lated by  my  brother. 

"I  was  a  very  small  silk  flag  of  the  United 
States,  and  had  been  separated  from  my 
associates  for  a  somewhat  indefinite  period. 
It  was  not  until  I  found  myself  neatly  and 
carefully  folded  between  two  sheets  of  writ- 
ing paper  placed  in  an  envelope  and  sealed 
therein,  that  I  realized  that  my  purchaser 
intended  sending  me  to  some  one  at  a  great 
distance. 

"  Enclosed  as  I  was,  I  could  not  determine 
my  destination.  So  I  resolved  to  act  like  a 
sensible  flag,  and  patiently  await  develop- 
ments.' ' 

In  recounting  events  dating  from  the  time 
of  my  arrival  over-seas,  I  have  a  hazy  recol- 
lection of  a  strange  voice  addressing  some 
one  as  follows:  "Heinrich,  here  is  a  big  fat 

73 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

letter  for  you,  it  is  from  America,  see,  I  put 
it  here." 

I  felt  myself  dropped  upon  a  smooth  hard 
surface,  only  to  be  seized,  the  envelope 
opened,  the  paper  extracted  and  unfolded, 
as  a  gentle  breeze  swept  me  from  between 
the  sheets  of  paper,  and  I  fell  at  the  feet  of 
my  new  acquaintance. 

A  young  man  of,  I  should  say,  about  28 
years  of  age,  picked  me  up  immediately,  and 
tenderly  said: 

"I  am  glad  Carl  sent  you  to  me,  little  flag; 
I  will  give  you  to  Lena.  Some  day  we  are  go- 
ing to  your  wonderful  country,  there  to  live 
in  harmony  with  all  the  world.  I  crave  the 
protection  and  opportunity  guaranteed  by 
your  laws.  I  wish  to  live  an  honorable  life 
unmolested  by  selfish  ambitions;  to  be  loved 
and  respected.  Flag  of  freedom  and  justice 
befriend  me;  inspire  me;  make  possible  the 
realization  of  my  dream." 

He  addressed  me  so  fervently,  so  consid- 
erately, I  experienced  a  feeling  of  joy  and 
thankfulness,  for  I  realized  that  I  had  fallen 
into  friendly  hands,  and  would  not  be  sub- 
jected to  personal  indignities. 

Holding  me  admiringly  before  him,  he 
turned  and  walked  toward  a  hedge  a  short 

74 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

distance   away,   stopped,   and  called  to   a 
young  girl,  who  came  to  him  instantly. 

"Look  Lena,  I  have  just  received  a  letter 
from  Carl.  It  is  the  first  since  the  armistice 
was  signed.  It  brings  a  message  from  over 
the  sea,"  and  he  handed  me  to  Lena,  who 
seemed  glad  I  had  come  to  her  for  she 
pressed  me  to  her  cheek  and  repeated  softly 
"A  message  from  over  the  sea." 

"Yes  dear,"  answered  Heinrich,  "Carl 
bids  us  come  to  the  United  States,  there  to 
live  in  peace  for  ever  more." 

"Is  there  such  a  landf 

"Yes  Lena;  come,  sit  beneath  this  tree, 
and  I  will  tell  you  the  message  of  the  flag. " 
After  they  were  comfortably  seated  the  man 
continued,  "This  flag  of  Red,  White  and 
Blue,  has  for  many  years  invited  the  op- 
pressed of  the  earth  to  its  home.  There  all 
are  free  and  equal;  there  one  may  worship 
God,  according  to  his  belief.  There,  all  peo- 
ples dwell  in  peace  and  happiness."  Impati- 
ently springing  to  his  feet  he  walked  away 
from  the  girl,  but  immediately  returned,  and 
looking  down  upon  her  declared  passion- 
ately: 

"Like  Rudolph,  I  am  tired  of  war  and 
famine;  tired  of  rulers  who  spurn  the  rights 

75 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

of  the  people;  tired  of  masters  who  debase 
the  blood;  tired  of  leaders  who  enforce  the 
law  of  might.  I  long  to  be  free ;  free  to  live ; 
free  to  enjoy  the  exalted  rights  of  a  true 
citizenship;  to  be  free  to  work,  to  love.  Not 
as  a  royal  slave,  but  as  a  man,  capable  of 
earning,  accumulating,  enjoying,  and  be- 
stowing upon  others,  the  right  to  "Life, 
liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness." 

"That  is  indeed  a  wonderful  message," 
replied  the  girl. 

"And  this  flag  is  its  inspiration.  See,  its 
blood-red  stripes  mean  hardiness  and  valor; 
its  white,  purity  and  innocence;  its  blue, 
perseverance,  vigilance  and  justice;  its 
stars,  hope." 

' '  Hope  ? ' '  murmured  Lena. 

"Yes,  and  has  not  the  Master  been  merci- 
ful'?— am  I  not  safe  and  well?  All  because 
of  your  prayers  for  me."  Then  seating  him- 
self at  the  feet  of  the  girl  he  continued: 

"Did  I  not  escape  the  ravages  of  war?  I 
was  not  to  die  on  the  battle  field  Lena.  But 
I  am  forgetting  the  letter  from  Carl.  He 
bids  me  join  him,  he  has  found  employment 
for  me.  It  will  not  be  long  before  I  will  have 
earned  enough  for  your  passage,  then  you 
too,  will  leave  this  war-torn  land  and  join 

76 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

me  in  America.  The  little  flag  you  hold  in 
your  hand  shall  be  yours;  wear  it  next  to 
your  heart,  and  remember  I  shall  be  as  loyal 
to  you  as  its  field  of  azure  blue.  You  may 
have  it,  Lena." 

"No  Heinrich,  I  will  not  take  it  from 
you." 

"I  have  another,  see?  Carefully  he  drew 
a  small  silk  flag  of  the  United  States  from 
out  a  pocketbook  and  proudly  held  it  in  his 
hand.  "This  was  given  me  at  the  Marne 
by  an  American  soldier  whom  I  found 
mortally  wounded.  He  begged  for  water;  I 
raised  him  in  my  arms ;  placed  my  canteen  to 
his  lips.  He  fancied  in  his  delirium  that  I 
was  a  comrade;  he  asked  me  to  take  a  mes- 
sage to  his  mother  when  I  returned  to  the 
States,  saying: 

"Take  it  to  her,  my  mother;  you  will  find 
her  address  written  upon  the  edge  beside  the 
stars.  Take  it,  love  it,  defend  it,  and  tell  the 
boys  I'm  going  over  the  top.  And  so  he  died; 
out  there  in  that  sea  of  blood.  I  shall  keep 
my  promise  to  the  soldier  of  the  Marne." 
Carefully  folding  the  little  flag  entrusted 
to  him,  he  replaced  it  in  his  pocket  book  be- 
side the  portrait  of  the  girl  Lena.  "And  now 
dear,"  he  continued,  "may  I  place  this  upon 
your  finger?" 

77 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

"A  ring?"  exclaimed  the  delighted  girl. 

"Have  I  not  loved  you  these  many  years'? 
First  as  the  student  of  Heidelberg;  then  as 
the  soldier,  and  now  as  the  man.  I  have 
waited  until  the  conclusion  of  the  war  for 
I  did  not  want  you  to  have  a  cripple  for  a 
husband.  It  is  because  of  this  love  that  I 
shall  go  to  the  United  States.  Will  you  trust 
me  and  wait,  just  a  little  longer?" 

"Forever  if  need  be,"  answered  the  girl. 

I  have  only  to  tell  you  that  Lena  placed 
me  in  her  bosom  and  during  the  embrace 
that  followed,I  knew  that  two  hearts  beat  in 
happy  unison,  and  that  some  day,  we  four 
would  meet  again. 


78 


NARRATIVE  IX, 


Illlllllllllllllll I Illlllllllllll Illllll II 1 1 II 1 1  llll 

Let  no  one  under- estimate  the  full  sig- 
nificance of  the  word  liberty.  Too  often 
we  substitute  license,  and  so  voice  con- 
tempt of  the  law. 

_  It  is  high  time  that  we  understand  that 
liberty  can  be  liberty  only  so  long  as  it 
does  not  destroy  the  inalienable  rights  of 
the  people. 

in  M  liMillll  n;  1 1 1 1 1 1 1  in  mil  mi  in  i .  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  hi  1 1  mi  mi ;,  i  in  1 1 1    i  mi  in  inn 


NARRATIVE  IX. 

IT  WILL  BE  much  better  for  me  to  con- 
tinue the  story  of  the  flag  given  Heinrich 
by  the  soldier  who  died  upon  the  battle  field. 
You  must  remember,  that  I  am  the  flag  sent 
to  Heinrich  by  Carl  and  given  by  him  to 
Lena,  before  sailing  for  the  United  States. 
So  I  will  first  give  you  the  story  of  my  rela- 
tive before  concluding  my  own. 

The  little  flag  was  not  taken  from  its  hid- 
ing place  until  one  afternoon  in  the 
crowded  steerage  of  a  huge  trans-Atlantic 
liner  bound  for  the  United  States.  It  was  an 
ill  smelling  hole  and  there  was  much  sick- 
ness. Poorly  clad  and  hungry  children  were 
everywhere.  My  defender  was  showing  a 
fellow  passenger  the  portrait  of  a  girl  and 
with  much  pride  exhibited  the  flag  given 
him  in  "No  Man's  Land."  Without  warn- 
ing the  stranger  struck  the  silken  folds  from 
out  his  hand,  and  as  it  fell  to  the  deck,  raised 
his  heel  as  if  to  stamp  upon  it.  Undoubtedly 
he  would  have  succeeded  had  not  Heinrich 
seized  him  by  the  throat. 

There  followed  a  cry  of  alarm;  a  rush  of 
many  feet  and  during  the  ensuing  excite- 

81 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

ment,  my  relative  was  severely  trampled 
upon  and  might  have  been  badly  defaced 
had  not  a  very  dirty  boy  spied  me  and  pick- 
ing me  up,  put  me  in  his  pocket. 

Heinrich  in  the  meantime  managed  to 
extricate  himself  from  the  excited  throng 
and  regain  his  treasure. 

The  next  appearance  of  the  little  flag  was 
several  days  later  as  the  good  ship  neared 
its  destination.  The  shore  line  of  the  great 
United  States  lay  before  them.  This  caused 
much  commotion  among  the  passengers,  es- 
pecially in  the  steerage.  This  distant  vision 
was  to  be  their  home.  Soon  they  would  be- 
come a  part  of  the  American  Republic.  The 
land  of  promise  and  opportunity.  What 
would  it  bring  to  them? 

The  vessel  was  met  by  puffing  tugs  and 
slowly  pushed  and  pulled  into  the  harbor. 
"See,"  excitedly  exclaimed  an  aged  man. 
"See,  is  not  that  the  Goddess  of  Liberty ?" 
All  eyes  turned  toward  the  inspiring  statue 
and  anxiously  tried  to  understand.  The  de- 
fender of  my  relative  paid  little  heed  to 
those  about  him.  He  was  engrossed  with  his 
own  thoughts.  In  his  hands  he  held  the  pic- 
ture of  a  girl  resting  upon  the  silken  flag  of 
the  Marne,  and  as  he  gazed  upon  the  land 

82 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

of  his  dreams,  I  heard  his  earnest  voice  re- 
peat these  wonderful  words. 

"God  be  my  witness.  I  pledge  my  allegi- 
ance to  this  flag  of  the  United  States  and  to 
the  Republic  for  which  it  stands;  one  nation, 
indivisible,  with  liberty  and  justice  to  all." 

Friend  Iieinrich  did  not  at  this  time  real- 
ize that  citizenship  must  be  earned.  He  was 
yet  to  learn  that  political  rights  and  privi- 
leges are  the  result,  not  alone  of  knowing 
the  law  but  of  submission  to  it.  He  had  not 
yet  realized  that  good  citizenship  is  based 
upon  service  and  that  one  cannot  be  a  good 
citizen  if  he  withholds  it.  He  was  one  day 
to  know,  that  justice  is  purchased  at  the  cost 
of  personal  sacrifice,  and  that  society  is  com- 
posed of  men  and  women  who  must  acknowl- 
edge the  rightousness  of  constituted  author- 
ity. He  found  that  citizenship  was  not  an 
abnormal  desire  to  get  all,  hold  all,  and  give 
nothing,  but  on  the  contrary,  a  well  balanced 
effort  to  secure  and  enjoy  the  fruits  of  hon- 
orable effort. 

He  also  learned  that  the  safety,  the  pros- 
perity, the  happiness,  aye  the  perpetuity  of 
self-government  lie  in  the  willingness  of  the 
people  constituting  that  government  to  deal 
justly  with  one  another;  not  only  to  under- 

83 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

stand  that  each  must  do  his  part,  but  to  do 
it  cheerfully  and  without  delay. 

It  was  indeed  regretable  that  upon  the  ar- 
rival of  Heinrich  in  the  great  city  of  New 
York,  Carl  failed  to  meet  him  as  expected. 
While  unable  to  understand  his  absence,  he 
resolved  to  find  him  as  speedily  as  possible. 
He  was  now  in  the  United  States;  he  must 
not  forget  Lena  or  his  promise  to  the  soldier 
of  the  Marne.  First  he  would  find  Carl;  then 
he  would  keep  his  word  given  upon  the  field 
of  battle;  he  would  study  the  ways  of  those 
about  him  and  one  day  he  would  reap  the 
reward  of  his  labor  and  become  what  he 
had  set  out  to  be,  a  loyal  citizen  of  the 
United  States. 


84 


NARRATIVE  X. 


I ill  mini ill n  in  si  mi  inn  i 


Every  American  citizen  must  champion 
the  right,  in  order  that  Justice  be  done.  He 
who  defies  the  law  defies  the  people,  and 
by  his  action  becomes  a  menace  to  society 
and  a  detriment  to  civilization. 

I  ■  1 1  >  1 1 1  >  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  •  ■  ■  l  f  l  ■  1 1 1 1  ■  • 1 1 1 1 1  ■  1 1 1  ■  1 1 ::  ■  1 1 1 1  ■  ■  1 1 1  ■•  x i  ■  1 1 1  ■ 


NARRATIVE  X. 

THE  FAILURE  of  Carl  to  meet  Heinrich 
was  not  alone  disappointing  but  depress- 
ing. He  feared  something  serious  had  hap- 
pened, and  alarm  increased  his  anxiety. 
What  could  have  detained  him? 

After  waiting  at  the  immigration  office 
the  greater  part  of  the  day,  he  determined 
to  go  to  the  address  given  in  the  last  letter 
he  had  received.  Without  serious  difficulty 
he  found  the  place  where  Carl  had  lived,  but 
was  informed  that  his  friend  had  been  run 
over  by  an  automobile,  and  taken  to  the 
City  Hospital,  some  two  weeks  before  his 
arrival. 

The  mystery  surrounding  Carl's  absence 
explained,  Heinrich  lost  no  time  in  locating 
the  unfortunate  who  was  naturally  over- 
joyed to  see  his  friend  but  almost  heart- 
broken over  his  own  misfortune.  Both  legs 
had  been  so  badly  crushed  that  amputation 
had  been  necessary  and  he  was  now  a 
cripple  for  the  rest  of  his  days. 

Heinrich  was  greatly  distressed  at  this 
unfortunate  turn  of  affairs.  He  must  now 
do  every  thing  in  his  power  to  aid  the  suf- 

87 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

ferer  in  the  hour  of  his  affliction.  Gladly 
would  he  accept  the  responsibility;  yes,  he 
would  care  for  his  friend  until  such  time  as 
he  would  be  able  to  help  himself.  Together 
they  planned.  They  would  find  a  place  to 
live,  and  as  soon  as  Heinrich  found  employ- 
ment they  would  manage  very  nicely. 

" Heinrich,"  interrupted  Carl  as  his  friend 
was  about  to  depart,  "in  yonder  locker  is  a 
message  from  your  brother  Rudolph.  He 
was  unable  to  write  you  during  the  great 
war,  so  he  asked  me  to  deliver  it  to  you." 

Eagerly  the  seal  was  broken  and  the  con- 
tents read.   It  contained  this  plea: 

i l  Heinrich  My  Brother :  Do  not  feel  hard 
toward  me  for  taking  up  arms  against  the 
' Fatherland.'  When  I  came  to  the  United 
States  I  resolved  like  thousands  of  our 
blood  to  become  a  loyal  citizen.  The  call  to 
arms  must  be  answered  by  all  who  believe 
in  human  liberty.  I  but  tlid  my  duty.  It  is 
the  price  all  so  situated  must  pay.  I  cannot 
hope  to  enjoy  what  I  have  not  the  courage 
to  defend.  God  forbid  we  meet  upon  the 
field  of  battle.  My  one  prayer  is  that  we,  at 
least,  be  spared  this  sacrifice.  Should  I  die, 
my  brother,  and  it  should  be  your  fate  to 
live,  come  to  America,  and  under  the  flag  1 

88 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

now  defend,  find  the  peace  and  happiness 
denied  to  me." 

"Is  there  not  another  message,  my 
friend ?"  asked  Heinrich. 

"Only  this,"  and  he  held  out  a  govern- 
ment list  of  heroic  dead  among  whose  names 
appeared  the  word,  "Rudolph." 

Hand  clasped  in  hand  the  friends  sat  in 
silence.  Sorrow,  the  great  leveler,  attunes 
our  souls  to  the  sufferings  of  others  in  order 
that  we  may  appreciate  the  full  meaning  of 
human  sympathy.  Rudolph  had  gone  before, 
but  Heinrich  was  glad  he  died  a  defender  of 
the  Republic.  And  so  each  resolved,  that 
they,  like  Rudolph,  would  loyally  serve  the 
flag  and  the  government  for  which  it  stood. 

Returning  to  the  district  in  which  Carl 
had  resided  prior  to  the  accident,  Heinrich 
passed  the  yards  of  the  East  Coast  Lumber 
Company.  On  the  office  door,  he  noticed  a 
sign  reading  "Men  Wanted."  Despondent 
as  he  was  over  the  events  of  the  day,  he 
realized  that  it  was  his  duty  to  meet  the 
issue  bravely  and  squarely.  Here  was  his 
opportunity,  the  one  thing  he  most  desired. 
Was  he  not  eager,  strong  and  ready"?  Why 
hesitate?  Did  not  his  education  fit  him  for 
advancement?  Without  further  considera- 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

tion  he  entered,  applied  for,  and  to  his  great 
joy,  received  his  first  employment  in  the 
United  States. 

This  was  indeed  fortunate.  After  supper 
he  would  write  a  long  letter  to  Lena,  then 
hasten  to  the  hospital  and  tell  Carl  the  great 
news.  His  friend  would  soon  regain  his 
health  and  strength.  He  would  send  for 
Lena.  How  easy  it  seemed,  for  now  he  would 
surely  succeed.  And  one  day  he  would  have 
the  little  home,  and  there  would  be  flowers, 
birds,  trees,  and  happiness. 

The  following  morning  he  was  astir  long 
before  a  beam  of  sunlight,  that  wonderful 
harbinger  of  hope,  had  penetrated  the  sur- 
rounding gloom.  His  heart  was  heavy  for 
Rudolph  would  never  know  how  he  had 
longed  to  see  him.  But  he  must  not  permit 
his  grief  to  delay  his  plans;  today  he  was  to 
begin  the  great  struggle  for  success;  today 
he  would  have  need  for  all  his  determina- 
tion. He  must  be  earnest.  He  must  do  his 
work  quickly  and  well.  He  must  be  punc- 
tual and  thus  instill  confidence  which  would 
lead  to  promotion.  He  would  prove  himself 
to  be  a  good  dependable  workman  and  so 
earn  the  respect  of  his  employer. 

Three  days  filled  with  conflicting  emo- 
tions passed.   Each  night  he   talked  with 

90 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

Carl.  They  planned  for  the  girl  across  the 
sea,  and  then  Heinrich  spoke  of  the  soldier 
of  the  Marne,  and  his  promise,  made  amid 
the  roar  and  din  of  battle.  As  soon  as  pos- 
sible he  would  deliver  the  message. 

"Poor  woman,"  he  said.  "I  feel  very 
sorry  for  her.  She  is  waiting,  Carl,  waiting 
for  the  boy  who  will  never  return.  And 
while  I  must  see  her,  I  would  rather  again 
face  the  storm  of  shell  and  steel,  than  this 
boy's  mother." 

On  the  morning  of  the  fifth  day  the  un- 
looked  for  happened.  A  stranger  entered 
the  yard  and  crossing  to  where  Heinrich 
was  employed  interrupted  his  labor  with 
the  abrupt  command:  "Come  here,  you." 

"What  is  it  you  wish?"  asked  Heinrich 
as  he  stood  before  his  questioner. 
"Pork  out  your  card." 

"I  do  not  understand  you,  my  friend.  I 
have  only  been  in  this  country  a  few  days 
and  I  do  not  know  what  you  mean." 

"I  want  your  C.-C." 
"And  what  is  a  C.-C?"  asked  Heinrich. 
"Clearance   card,  you  boob.  Hurry  up, 
come  through." 
"I  have  no  such  card." 

91 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

"So  you  are  a  rat,  eh?" 
"Why  do  you  call  me  a  rat?" 

"Can  the  chatter;  you  can't  work  here;  go 
get  your  time." 

"Do  you  mean  I  cannot  work?"  ex- 
claimed the  startled  man. 

"Got  through  the  concrete,  eh?  Don't 
try  to  kid  me.  Only  been  in  the  country  a 
few  days?  Why,  you  ain't  even  a  citizen." 

"Are  you?" 

"You  can  bet  your  sweet  life  I  am." 

"My  friend,  I  wish  to  become  a  citizen. 
My  brother  died  for  this  flag;  see,  I  have  it 
here,"  and  he  proudly  displayed  the  flag  of 
the  Marne,  and  was  about  to  continue  when 
the  stranger  interrupted  with — 

"Can  the  chatter,  that  flag  ain't  gettin'  ye 
anything  here." 

"My  friend,"  exclaimed  Heinrich,"Ihave 
only  been  in  your  country  but  five  days,  and 
yet  I  know  better  than  that.  I  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Austrian  army;  hold  on,  I  know  what 
you  would  say.  But  I  want  you  to  know  that 
my  brother  came  to  this  country  many  years 
ago.  He  fought  under  this  flag.  He  did  his 
duty  even  at  the  cost  of  his  life.  He  fought 
for  his,  as  I  did  for  mine,  we  cannot  be 

92 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

blamed  for  that.   But  let  me  tell  you  how  I 
secured  this  flag. 

"  During  the  battle  of  the  Marne,  in  the 
early  dawn,  we  crossed  'No  Man's  Land' 
and  after  crawling  through  a  net  work  of 
wire,  I  fell  into  a  shell  hole,  and  upon  the 
mangled  body  of  a  man.  He  was  terribly 
wounded;  I  raised  his  head  and  placed  my 
canteen  to  his  lips.  He  smiled  his  gratitude 
and  taking  this  flag  from  his  breast,  gave  it 
to  me.  Then  he  attempted  to  speak  but  the 
roar  of  battle  was  so  terrific  I  could  not 
hear.  Again  I  raised  him  in  my  arms,  placed 
my  ear  to  his  lips  and  caught  these  words : 
1  Take  this  flag,  Buddy,  take  it  to  my 
mother,  you  will  find  her  address  on  the 
edge,  by  the  stars,  you  won't  forget?  Just 
tell  the  boys  I  Ve  gone — over  the  top — good 
bye.' 

"His  words  kindled  anew  my  desire  to 
live  as  he  had  died,  a  loyal  citizen  of  the 
American  Republic.  I  was  weary  of  imperial 
dictation  and  oppression,  so  like  my  brother 
I  crossed  the  sea.  I  have  renounced  the 
Fatherland  and  pledge  my  life  in  the  de- 
fense of  this  flag  and  the  government  for 
which  it  stands." 

"Some  spiel,  but  it  don't  mean  anything," 
93 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

interrupted  the  agent.    "Come  on,  get  off 
the  job." 

"But  you  did  not  employ  me,  I  am — 
"So  that's  yer  game,  eh?  Well  we'll  see 
about  that,  you  come  with  me  and  see 
whose  got  the  say  about  here,  old  man 
Goodheart  or  me."  Both  men  entered  the 
office  and  fortunately  found  the  President, 
Mr.  Goodheart,  at  his  desk. 

"'Morning  chief,"  began  the  agent, 
"you'll  have  to  shake  this  rat  loose  from 
his  job." 

"Indeed?  what  rat?" 

"This  guy  here." 

"There  must  be  some  mistake.  You  know 
this  is  a  union  yard.  I  understood  all  ar- 
rangements had  been  made.  I  want  to  give 
this  fellow  a  fighting  chance." 

"Rules  is  rules,  and  he's  got  to  go." 

"Have  you  seen  my  foreman?" 

"I'm  dealing  with  you  at  present,"  re- 
plied the  agent  impatiently. 

"Then  permit  me  to  suggest  a  more  civil 
tone  and  attitude." 

"Say,  Goodheart,  there  are  just  two 
moves   to  make — fire  him,   or  out   go  the 


men.' ' 


94 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

"You  are  demanding  of  me  one  of  the 
most  un-American  acts  imaginable.  I  do  not 
question  your  right  to  organize.  But  I  do 
object  to  arbitrary  demands;  demands  con- 
trary to  the  guaranteed  privileges  of  citizen- 
ship, the  inalienable  right  to  'life,  liberty 
and  happiness'." 

"This  ain't  no  Chautauqua,"  vehemently 
answered  the  agent.  "You  know  the  rules 
and  that's  enough." 

"Hold  on,  Bill,"  exclaimed  the  foreman, 
who  had  just  entered  the  office.  "I'm  from 
headquarters,  so  you  take  things  easy.  Mr. 
Goodheart,  I've  been  a  standin'  out  there 
in  the  hall  for  quite  a  bit,  and  if  you  don't 
mind,  I'll  take  a  hand  in  this  conversation." 

"Go  right  ahead,  Mr.  Fairplay,  you  are 
always  welcome, "  replied  the  President. 

"Bill,"  continued  the  foreman,  "I  want 
you  to  listen  to  me,  for  I've  a  heap  to  say. 
While  out  there  I  heard  every  word  you  and 
the  boss  said,  and  I'm  surprised,  Bill,  to  say 
the  least.  This  man  you  call  a  rat — " 

"What  are  you  tryin'  to  do,  Max?  Make 
a  monkey  out  o'  me?"  demanded  the  agent. 

"Continue  to  act  as  you  have  and  you'll 
save  me  the  trouble.  You  just  hold  your 
temper  and  you'll  make  no  mistake.    Just 

95 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

get  this  first  off.  I'm  union,  top,  sides,  bot- 
tom and  middle  and  a  little  something  be- 
sides. A  good  American  citizen.  Let  me  re- 
mind you,  Bill,  there's  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  men  in  the  ranks  of  labor  as  proud 
of  their  union  cards  as  they  are  of  the  flag 
of  the  United  States,  and  that's  goin'  some." 

"You  must  not  forget  that  a  great  ma- 
jority of  the  workers  are  trying  to  live  up 
to  the  United  States  Constitution,  and  what 
is  more  to  the  point,  we  are  going  to  see  that 
every  one  else  does.  We  have  just  dis- 
covered that  the  closer  we  stick  to  that 
document,  the  firmer  we  are  going  to  estab- 
lish Union  Labor.  We  have  in  many  cases 
made  the  mistake  of  being  unjust  to  our  fel- 
low worker.  And  just  because  he  did  not 
agree  with  us  on  every  point  we  used  a 
rock,  instead  of  reason.  We  called  him  a  rat, 
when  we  knew  he  was  a  man.  When  we  dis- 
covered a  worker  without  a  card,  we 
roughed  him,  without  thinkin'  of  the  cost. ' ' 

"Experience  has  made  us  human,  we  are 
agoin'  to  see  that  he  understands;  we're 
goin'  to  see  that  he  gets  the  right  idea.  He's 
goin'  to  learn  something.  He's  goin'  to  learn 
that  bein'  loyal  to  his  union,  means  also 
bein'  loyal  to  the  government.  In  our 
anxiety    we    got    things    a    bit    twisted; 

96 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

that's  all.  We  demanded  justice  from  the 
government  instead  of  demanding  justice 
for  the  government.  We're  the  government, 
Bill,  you  and  me,  and  all  the  rest  of  us.  Now 
this  bein'  so,  if  we  obey  the  law  as  well  as 
enforce  it,  we  win." 

"Say  where  do  you  get  that  stuff?  I — " 
"Hold  on,  Bill,  don't  hurry  me,"  con- 
tinued the  foreman,  "I  said  I  had  a  heap  to 
say  and  I  want  to  get  it  off  my  chest.  Now 
I  take  it  that  you  intended  to  force  this  man 
off  his  job.  Why  didn't  you  take  the  time 
to  explain  it  to  him?" 

"Now  I  want  him  to  get  the  right  idea  re- 
spectin'  the  union,  as  well  as  our  relation- 
ship to  the  government.  I  want  him  to  know 
he  was  right  when  he  looked  to  the  flag  for 
justice.  I  want  him  to  know  that  union  men, 
to  a  man,  are  loyal  to  the  same  flag  you 
slighted  a  moment  ago;  you  may  have 
done  it  unintentionally,  carelessly,  but  you 
slighted  it  just  the  same.  Now  you  must  not 
forget,  that  labor's  sons  manned  the  ships 
and  filled  the  ranks;  not  forgettin'  the 
mothers  and  fathers,  wives  and  sisters,  who 
rallied  to  their  support." 

"So  you  were  dead  wrong  when  you  told 
him  that  the  flag  would  get  him  nothin'; 

97 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

you  made  a  big  mistake,  and  I'm  fair  enough 
to  think,  that  deep  in  your  heart  you  didn't 
mean  it.  Why,  man,  our  faith  in  that  flag 
must  never  be  destroyed,  at  least  not  by  one 
claiming  to  be  a  citizen  of  the  Republic." 

"Bill,  I  gave  my  boy  to  make  this  a  bet- 
ter country,  not  a  selfish  one.  And  I'm  not 
goin'  to  let  any  man  comin'  to  this  country 
prove  himself  a  better  citizen  than  I  am.  In 
memory  of  my  boy,  I  have  determined  to 
help  this  man  to  citizenship.  He  in  turn 
must  not  forget,  that  if  he  is  to  be  allowed 
to  enjoy  the  protection  of  this  flag,  he  must 
swear  to  love,  honor  and  defend  it,  or  labor 
will  see  to  it,  that  he  re-embarks  on  the  first 
vessel  sailing  for  the  other  side." 

"Well,  I  had  to  do  my  duty,  didn't  If* 
broke  in  the  agent. 

"Sure  you  did,  but  you  went  about  it  in 
the  wrong  way.  We  can't  expect  to  ram  our 
idea  down  the  throats  of  men,  any  more 
than  we  will  submit  to  the  same  process. 
Bill,  labor  is  thinking  today  as  never  before, 
and  as  one  of  'em  I've  been  wondering  how 
many  strikes  there 'd  be,  if  the  salaries  of 
the  men  responsible  for  them,  were  to  be 
stopped  the  moment  they  were  called." 

"I  don't  see  where — " 

98 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

"Sure  you  don't,  Bill,  but  you  will.  When 
this  chap  applied  to  me  for  work,  I  asked 
him  for  his  credentials.  He  told  me  he  had 
none.  I  found  he  had  only  been  in  this 
country  a  few  hours,  and  bein'  short  handed 
I  put  him  to  work,  with  the  understanding 
that  he  would  make  immediate  application 
for  membership  in  the  local.  This  he  agreed 
to  do.  I  have  just  received  his  C.-C.  duly 
signed  by  the  steward  and  here  it  is." 

"Why  didn't  you  say  so  before?" 

"Why  didn't  3^011  take  the  same  interest 
that  I  did?  Give  every  man  a  square  deal 
and  you'll  prevent  an  awful  lot  of  sor- 
row. My  idea  is  to  make  the  union  so  at- 
tractive that  no  man  could  be  found  without 
a  card.  Come,  let's  shake  hands  all  around 
and  call  it  a  day." 

Relieved  at  the  happy  turn  of  affairs, 
Heinrich  did  not  notice  the  proffered  hand 
of  the  foreman.  He  was  thinking  of  Lena,  of 
his  friend  and  the  unmarked  grave  in 
France.  When  he  no  longer  heard  voices,  he 
raised  his  eyes  and  saw  the  extended  hand. 
Gratefully  he  accepted  the  other's  friendly 
grasp,  as  he  did  so  he  unconsciously  dropped 
me,  the  flag  of  the  Marne  to  the  floor. 

Heinrich  turned  to  thank  his  employer, 
and  then  extended  his  hand  to  Bill.   As  he 

99 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

moved  toward  the  door,  the  foreman  stooped 
and  picking  me  up  crossed  to  Heinrich  and 
laying  his  hand  upon  his  shoulder  said, 
"You  are  all  right  boy,  don't  weaken.  Keep 
alive  your  faith  in  this  flag;  believe  in  it, 
and  you  will  make  no  mistake.  The  road  to 
citizenship  lies  beneath  its  folds  and  is 
straight  ahead.  Here  take  this;  you  dropped 
it  as  we  shook  hands  a  moment  ago." 

Suddenly  the  eyes  of  the  foreman  fell 
upon  my  silken  folds.  He  staggered  back 
exclaiming,  "  Speak  man,  tell  me  where  did 
you  get  this  flag?" 

Heinrich  related  the  story  of  the  shell 
hole  at  the  Marne.  All  listened  with 
rapt  attention.  At  its  conclusion  the  fore- 
man, with  trembling  fingers  pointed  to  the 
name  written  on  the  edge  of  my  silken 
folds.  Then  sank  upon  his  knees,  tears 
streaming  down  his  furrowed  cheeks  as  he 
muttered:  "My  poor  boy,  my  poor  boy.  She 
waited  for  you,  and  now  you're  home  with 
mother,  and  I  am  here  alone,  boy,  alone." 


100 


NARRATIVE  XI 


•■■ I  II  III  III ■ Mill IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIII I II I II 

To  doubt  your  country  is  to  doubt  your- 
self. Practice  justice,  loyalty  and  pa^ 
tience.  Patience  in  the  performance  of 
your  duty,  justice  toward  your  fellow  man, 
and  loyalty  to  your  God,  your  country  and 
your  flag. 

■  ■■■■■•■■■■■■■•■■■■■■■■II ■■■■■■ IIIM  I  ■■■■■■■■  Mil  III! I III! 


NARRATIVE  XI. 

I  WILL  return  to  Lena  and  give  you,  dear 
reader,  a  passing  glimpse  of  what  hap- 
pened to  me,  and  at  the  same  time  relate 
the  strange  adventure  that  was  the  direct 
cause  of  a  remarkable  union.  Truth  is  a 
wonderful  chronicler,  and  therefore  re- 
sponsible for  much  of  our  romance. 

No  sooner  had  Heinrich  departed  for  the 
United  States  than  Lena's  only  relative,  a 
maiden  aunt,  sickened  and  died.  An  ac- 
quaintance, in  an  effort  to  befriend  the  un- 
fortunate girl,  obtained  employment  for  her 
in  a  near-by  city,  where  she  cheerfully 
labored,  while  awaiting  the  anticipated 
message  from  Heinrich. 

For  a  time  letters  arrived  with  regu- 
larity; then  suddenly  grew  less  in  number, 
and  at  times  difficult  to  understand.  The 
last  few  appeared  to  be  written  by  another 
hand.  It  was  evident  that  something  had 
happened  and  many  anxious  days  and 
nights  followed  this  discovery. 

Many  times  Lena  would  sigh  in  her  sleep 
and  call  out  for  Heinrich.  One  night,  while 
seated  by  the  open  window  I  distinctly  felt 

103 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

a  tear  fall  upon  my  silken  sheen.  I  knew  her 
heart  was  saddened  and  that  she  could  not 
stand  the  suspense  much  longer. 

In  my  restricted  surroundings  it  was  im- 
possible for  me  to  keep  an  accurate  record 
of  time,  therefore  I  am  unable  to  positively 
state  just  how  long  Lena  waited  for  an 
answer  to  her  appeal  for  the  truth.  But  I  do 
remember  that  one  spring  morning  there 
came  a  letter  that  caused  immediate 
preparations  for  the  trip  across  the  sea. 
"Dear  little  flag/'  she  said,  "Heinrich  may 
be  ill,  in  danger  perhaps;  so  we  are  going  to 
the  United  States  together  and  I  know  we 
shall  find  him. ' ' 

Not  many  weeks  later  we  arrived,  and 
presented  ourselves  at  the  office  of  the  East 
Coast  Lumber  Company.  Here  Lena  was 
told  that  lieinrich  had  been  made  foreman 
of  one  of  the  company's  lumber  camps  in 
Wisconsin.  Mr.  Goodheart,  the  President, 
was  expected  at  any  moment,  and  assur- 
ance given  that  he  would  be  glad  to  see  her 
as  he  was  very  fond  of  Heinrich.  Before 
Lena  could  question  her  informant  further, 
the  office  door  opened  and  Mr.  Goodheart 
entered.  When  informed  that  Lena,  the  be- 
trothed of  Heinrich  had  arrived  he  gave  the 
anxious  girl  a  cordial  welcome.  How  fortu- 

104 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

nate  she  was;  how  kind  every  one  had  been 
to  her;  now  she  would  learn  of  Heinrieh  and 
the  mystery  would  soon  be  explained.  Ten- 
derly she  drew  me  from  out  her  reticule  and 
pressed  me  to  her  lips  saying,  "Dear  little 
flag,  my  faith  in  you  will  never,  never  die." 

"So  this  is  Lena,"  interrupted  Mr.  Good- 
heart;  "there,  don't  blush;  he  has  spoken  of 
you  so  often  that  I  really  feel  as  if  I  knew 
you.  But  tell  me,  does  Heinrieh  know  of 
your  arrival?" 

"I  am  afraid  not;  perhaps  I  should  not 
have  come,  but  his  letters  worried  me;  they 
did  not  appear  to  have  been  written  by  him. 
I  did  not  understand,  and  I  feared  some- 
thing had  happened." 

"So  you  concluded  to  investigate;  you 
were  quite  right;  you  know  nothing  of  his 
injury?" 

"Injury?"  repeated  the  girl  slowly,  "in- 
jury? Heinrieh?  He  is  hurt?  Oh  please, 
please  tell  me?" 

"It  is  nothing  serious  my  good  girl," 
quickly  replied  Mr.  Goodheart,  "compose 
yourself  my  child.  He  unfortunately  frac- 
tured his  arm;  nothing  more,  I  assure  you. 
That  is  the  reason  his  letters  were  in  an- 
other hand;  others  attempted  to  help  him." 

105 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

"And  he  would  not  tell  me?" 

' '  He  did  not  wish  to  worry  you,  and  man- 
like adopted  the  wrong  course.  Under  the 
same  circumstances  I  am  afraid  I  should 
have  made  the  same  mistake." 

"I  suppose  you  are  anxious  to  see  Hein- 
rich?  No  more  I  warrant,  than  he  is  to  see 
you.  If  you  will  be  good  enough  to  return 
this  afternoon  at  five  o'clock,  we  will  start 
you  for  the  Wisconsin  woods." 

After  a  very  grateful  and  happy  girl  had 
left  the  office  President  Goodlieart  sent  for 
his  foreman  and,  returning  to  his  desk, 
picked  up  a  telegram  which  had  been  lying 
upon  a  pile  of  letters  face  down  and  again 
read  it  carefully. 

"By  George  this  is  unfortunate,"  he 
mused.  "And  the  girl  here;  came  all  these 
anxious  miles  to  find  him  seriously  injured; 
perhaps  dead."  Calling  his  secretary,  Mr. 
Goodlieart  dictated  the  following  telegram: 

"Masterson:  Spare  no  expense,  if  it  is 
within  the  power  of  money  to  save  his  life, 
save  it." 

"You  sent  for  me?"  asked  the  foreman  as 
he  hastily  entered  the  office. 
"I  did,  Max,  read  this." 

106 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

"Heinrich  crushed  by  a  falling  tree,  hope 
to  save  his  life. — Masterson.  It  can't  be 
true,  Mr.  Goodheart,  surely,  it  can't  be 
truer' 

"And  to  make  matters  worse,"  replied 
the  president,  "the  girl  is  here." 

"Lena?"  exclaimed  the  astonished  fore- 
man. 

"Yes,  she  is  to  return  at  five  o'clock  for 
her  transportation." 

"Then  she  knows?" 

"Not  yet." 

"Mr.  Goodheart,  do  me  a  favor  sir,  I  want 
my  vacation  now." 

"I  can't  let  you  go  Max,  at  this  time,  that 
shipment — " 

"I  want  my  vacation  now,  please  Mr. 
Goodheart,"  insisted  the  determined  man. 

"Is  it  so  very  important  to  you?" 

"It  is  sir.  Don't  you  recall  the  story  of  the 
Austrian  soldier  who  found  my — my  boy? 
He  made  death  easy  for  him.  It's  my  duty 
sir;  my  boy  would  expect  it." 

"Transportation  for  two  will  be  here  at 
five  o'clock.  Max,  I  am  proud  of  you;  the 
shipment  can  wait,  I  will  wire  Masterson 
immediately  that  you  and  the  girl  are  on  the 
way.  It  may  help  the  boy  to  know  this." 

107 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

Following  the  departure  came  the  anx- 
ious trip  to  the  forests  of  Wisconsin;  the 
drive  through  the  timber;  the  arrival  at  the 
camp,  and  the  joyous  meeting  of  Heinrich 
and  Lena. 

It  may  have  been  the  careful  nursing  of 
Lena  and  Max;  it  may  have  been  that 
powerful  incentive,  love;  or  was  it  the  re- 
sult of  the  lesson  of  loyalty  taught  by  me, 
for  Heinrich  rapidly  regained  both  health 
and  strength. 

Some  months  after  Max  had  returned  to 
his  post  as  foreman  of  the  East  Coast  Lum- 
ber Company's  yards,  a  new  western  man- 
ager took  charge  of  the  Wisconsin  interests- 
His  name  was  Heinrich  and  at  a  comfort- 
able desk  in  the  office  sits  the  crippled  Carl. 
I  have  only  to  add  that  Heinrich  and  Lena 
were  married,  and  on  their  first  anniversary 
a  small  package  was  received. 

It  contained  a  little  silk  flag,  accompanied 
by  this  note: 

"My  Dear  Friends:  Please  accept  this 
bit  of  silk,  in  memory  of  one  who  died  for 
humanity.  Like  the  stars  of  this  little  flag, 
remain  loyal  to  each  other.  Teach  your  chil- 
dren to  revere  their  God,  and  faithfully 
serve  the  nation  and  its  flag.  Teach  them  to 

108 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

respect  and  remember  all  who  died  in  the 
service  of  their  country.  It  is  }^our  duty  and 
mine,  in  so  far  as  it  lies  in  our  power,  to  see 
that  the  future  of  these  United  States  be 
made  as  secure  as  the  love  you  honor.  Let 
this  flag  direct  your  wandering  feet  safely 
through  life's  thorny  path,  to  the  portals  of 
the  Master's  sanctuary,  is  the  humble 
prayer  of 

"Your  Sincere  Friend, 

"MAXFAIRPLAY." 


J09 


NARRATIVE  XII. 


ii illinium  minimi  ill  ii u  n  mini  inimi i mi 

It  was  the  Flag  of  the  United  States, 
more  than  any  other  agency,  that  inspired 
the  founders  of  the  Republic  to  defend  the 
priceless  privileges  enjoyed  today.  The 
Flag  makes  possible  freedom  of  thought 
and  action.  The  Flag  guarantees  to  all 
people,  obedient  to  the  law,  justice  and 
protection.  The  Flag  is,  and  ever  will  be, 
the  mighty  force  that  directs  our  falter- 
ing steps  toward  the  heights  of  national 
greatness. 

illimilllllinimilllllllllllllllllllllinillllllllllllimilllllllllimiimillllllil 


NARRATIVE  XII. 

T  AM  the  Flag  of  the  United  States.  It  is 
A  therefore  my  duty  to  remind  you  of  the 
many  efforts  of  the  founders  of  the  Re- 
public who,  "in  order  to  form  a  more  per- 
fect Union,  establish  Justice,  insure  domes- 
tic Tranquility,  provide  for  the  common  de- 
fense, promote  the  general  Welfare,  and  se- 
cure the  blessings  of  Liberty  to  ourselves 
and  our  Posterity,  did  ordain  and  establish, 
'  the  United  States  of  America,  a  govern- 
ment,' instituted  among  those  deriving  their 
just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  gov- 
erned." 

I  am  also  the  law,  the  force,  the  power, 
that  rests  in  the  hands  of  a  tolerant  people. 

Are  you  aware  that  I  was  ten  years  old 
before  Delaware,  Pennsylvania,  and  New 
Jersey  ratified  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States"?  Eleven,  when  the  same  ac- 
tion was  taken  by  Georgia,  Connecticut, 
Massachusetts,  Maryland,  South  Carolina, 
New  Hampshire,  Virginia,  and  New  York? 
Twelve,  when  North  Carolina  acquiesced, 
and  thirteen  when  Rhode  Island  finally  de- 
cided to  become  a  part  of  the  Union? 

113 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

I  was  born  June  14th,  1777  and  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States  of  America 
was  not  ratified  by  the  required  number  of 
colonies  until  1788,  eleven  years  later. 

At  this  writing,  June  14th,  1921,  I  am  ex- 
actly one  hundred  and  forty-four  years  of 
age.  During  this  period  I  have  enjoyed  ex- 
ceptional opportunities  for  observation. 
Many  times  I  have  had  occasion  to  wonder 
if  my  defenders,  the  people  whom  I  repre- 
sent, are  as  proud  of  me  as  I  am  to  symbo- 
lize the  principles  of  self-government  ? 

I  float  from  your  National  and  State 
Buildings;  your  schools,  factories  and 
shops;  I  am  found  in  the  home  and  church, 
fraternal  hall  and  club;  your  courts  of 
justice,  jury  rooms,  asylums;  your  orphan 
homes  and  reformatories — yes,  your  prisons. 
I  am  not  a  stranger  to  your  cemeteries. 
Look  for  me  where  you  will,  at  home  or 
abroad;  in  village,  town  or  city;  on  the  sea, 
in  the  air,  north,  south,  east  or  west;  encircle 
the  earth  itself;  you  will  find  me  every- 
where. 

From  an  exalted  position  on  the  staff  of  a 
mighty  edifice,  or  in  the  sweltering  tene- 
ment, I  treat  all  alike.  Many  times  I  have 
cried  aloud  for  justice;  for  peace  and  har- 
mony among  men.    I  seek  to  influence  the 

114 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

children,  for  too  well  I  know  that  one  day 
my  safety  will  rest  entirely  in  their  hands. 

I  have  had  many  strange  and  humiliating 
experiences  and  their  recurrence  would  be 
impossible  were  the  simple  rules  of  conduct 
toward  me  generally  known  and  observed. 
A  knowledge  of  national  regulation  and 
usage  would  certainly  add  to  the  dignity  of 
my  position. 

Why  should  it  be  difficult  to  realize  that  I 
cannot,  in  justice  to  the  founders  of  the  Re- 
public, favor  class  or  creed'? 

Why  should  it  be  necessary  to  emphasize 
the  fact  that  I  represent  all  the  people  and 
it  is  therefore  not  unreasonable  to  expect 
all  people  to  honor  and  defend,  not  alone  me, 
but  the  government  represented  in  my 
Stars  and  Stripes. 

Is  there  a  legitimate  excuse  for  any  one 
to  raise  me  to  the  top  of  a  staff,  and  then 
deliberately  abandon  me  to  the  mercy  of 
the  elements'? 

Why  am  I,  time  and  time  again,  allowed 
to  be  whipped  and  torn  by  the  gale;  blistered 
and  faded  by  the  sun;  drenched  by  torrential 
rains,  until  I  hang  a  discolored  rag,  stripped 
of  my  splendor,  and  ignominiously  deserted. 
Again  and  again  has  the  halyard  to  which  I 

115 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

have  been  fastened,  snapped  in  the  storm 
and  I  have  fallen  to  the  roof  or  street, 
utterly  destroyed. 

Recall,  dear  reader,  the  countless  times 
you  have  observed  me  nailed  or  tacked  to 
this,  or  tied  to  that;  draped  inside  or  out- 
side; hind-end  too;  upside  down;  anywhere, 
anyhow,  without  respect  or  consideration. 

I  have  hung,  pinned  to  the  steel  work  of 
an  elevator  shaft  and  freely  spattered  with 
the  grease  and  grime  of  working  cables.  I 
have  served  as  window  shade  and  shelf 
paper  upon  which  have  been  placed  every- 
thing from  stale  fish  to  rusty  nails.  In  many 
cases  I  have  been  plastered  with  advertising 
matter  of  every  conceivable  character. 

I  have  been  tied  to  the  tail-gate  of  a 
wagon,  jerked  over  highway  and  street  on 
the  side  of  sled  and  cart,  through  dust  and 
mud,  I  have  served  as  rosette,  festoon  and 
table  cloth;  draped  over  chair  and  bench  at 
ceremonials  and  reviews ;  hung  over  and  un- 
der, horizontally  and  vertically,  and  at  every 
conceivable  angle. 

I  have  decorated  penny  candy,  toy  bal- 
loons, chewing  gum,  writing  pads,  copy 
books,  envelopes,  business  cards,  and  vari- 
ous forms  of  advertising.    I  have  adorned 

116 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

mule,  horse  and  vehicle;  served  as  awning 
and  sunshade,  and  covered  the  hood,  top, 
sides  or  end  of  an  automobile. 

I  have  been  carried  in  innumerable 
parades,  waved  in  the  faces  of  cheering 
thousands,  only  to  be  thrown  away  at  the 
end  of  the  march  by  thoughtless  bearers 
who  gave  little  heed  of  the  respect  due  me. 

I  have  been  painted  upon,  sat  upon,  aye, 
stood  upon,  and  cut  to  suit  the  ignorant 
fancy  of  a  freakish  mind.  I  have  been  en- 
twined about  spokes  and  hubs  of  bicycle  and 
wagon,  as  well  as  the  running  gear  of  every 
known  vehicle,  from  locomotive  to  wheel- 
barrow. 

I  have  been  tied  to  dog  collar  and  tail; 
used  as  a  blanket  for  horses,  goats,  ele- 
phants and  monkeys;  embroidered  on  sofa 
cushions,  and  used  as  a  foot  or  head  rest. 

I  have  served  as  a  belt  about  a  prize 
fighter's  middle,  emblazoned  on  a  pocket 
handkerchief  to  mop  a  dripping  nose.  I 
have  beautified  fans,  hat  ribbons,  stockings, 
shirts  and  neckties.  And  even  exhibited  at 
a  fancy  dress  ball  as  a  patch  on  the  seat  of  a 
comedy  pair  of  pants. 

How   long,    Oh   citizens    of   the   United 

States  of  America,  must  I  submit  to  such 

indignities  % 

117 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

Do  you  not  think  it  is  time  to  know  that  I 
should  be  raised  at  sunrise  and  lowered  at 
sunset?  That  I  should  never  be  draped  over 
a  bench  or  chair,  especially  below  a  person 
seated?  All  should  remember  that  I  am  not 
to  be  hung  upside  down,  or  wrong  end  to. 
When  I  am  printed  as  an  illustration  in  any 
manner,  see  to  it  that  my  staff  is  so  placed 
that  I  will  invariably  fly  to  the  right.  Bear 
in  mind  that  I  must  at  all  times,  and  in  all 
places,  float  to  the  right  of  all  other  flags, 
domestic  or  foreign.  When  used  on  Memor- 
ial Day,  remember  that  I  am  to  remain  at 
half  staff  until  noon,  then  raise  me  to  top  of 
staff  until  sunset. 

When  necessary  to  fly  me  at  half  staff 
hoist  me  in  a  decorous  manner  to  peak  or 
top  of  staff,  pause  an  instant  and  then  slow- 
ly lower  me  to  position.  When  at  half  staff 
and  you  wish  to  lower,  first  hoist  me  to  peak 
of  staff,  then  lower  me  in  a  dignified  man- 
ner, being  careful  not  to  trail  me  on  roof  or 
ground.  Please  do  not  roll  me  in  a  ball  and 
hoist  me  before  unfurling. 

Never  drive  a  nail  or  tack  in  or  through 
any  part  of  me.  When  I  am  torn,  faded,  old, 
with  loving  hands  consign  me  to  the  flames. 
Let  my  spirit  mingle  with  the  free  air  of 

118 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

Heaven,  rather  than  the  festering  muck  of 
alley  or  street. 

Never  hoist  me  when  torn,  until  I  have 
been  repaired.  Never  hang  me  where  I  can 
be  easily  soiled  or  damaged.  Do  not  drape 
me  over  arch  or  doorway;  never  allow  me  to 
be  carelessly  thrown  into  some  corner.  And 
please,  please,  if  you  love  me,  do  not  leave 
me  out  over  night,  or  display  me  in  stormy 
weather,  unless  it  is  absolutely  unavoidable. 

Do  not  festoon  me ;  I  should  always  hang 
free.  Do  not  tie  me  in  a  knot;  there  is  plenty 
of  red,  white  and  blue  material  that  can  be 
used  for  decorating  purposes,  and  it  is  ex- 
tremely bad  taste  so  to  abuse  me.  Never  let 
me  cover  a  speaker's  desk  or  table.  The  only 
thing  that  can  be  placed  upon  me  with  pro- 
priety is  the  Holy  Bible,  signifying  the  sub- 
mission of  the  Nation  to  God  alone.  When 
I  am  used  in  unveiling  a  statue  or  monu- 
ment do  not  allow  me  to  fall  to  the  ground; 
see  that  I  am  carried  aloft,  where  I  may 
wave  free,  and  do  not  raise  me  with  any 
mechanical  device. 

When  I  am  raised  at  ceremonials,  all 
present  should  stand;  if  covered,  remove 
hat.  Better  still,  salute  with  right  hand. 
When  I  pass  in  review  or  on  parade  remove 
your  hat  and  stand  in  a  respectful  attitude. 

119 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

If  seated  and  I  am  passing,  arise  and  un- 
cover; recollect  you  are  not  honoring  me 
alone,  but  the  government  I  symbolize  and 
of  which  you  are  a  part. 

The  playing  or  singing  of  "The  Star 
Spangled  Banner,"  should  bring  all  to  their 
feet,  remaining  in  this  position  until  the  air 
is  finished.  Always  face  the  musicians  or 
singers.  The  National  Anthem  should  not 
be  used  as  the  part  of  a  medley  or  played  for 
the  dispersing  of  an  assembly.  Applause  at 
the  conclusion  of  the  "Anthem"  is  decided- 
ly and  absolutely  out  of  place. 

Permit  me  to  emphasize  the  need  for 
knowledge  in  regard  to  my  use  in  decora- 
tions of  every  character.  An  intelligent  ef- 
fort will  prevent  injustice  and  misunder- 
standing. It  will  certainly  add  to  the  effec- 
tiveness of  one's  desire  to  elevate,  and  not 
lower,  my  value  as  the  s}^mbol  of  our  Fed- 
eral Union. 

When  I  am  displayed  it  is  well  to  bear  in 
mind  that  I  should  be  suspended  from  a 
mast  or  staff .  But  if  I  am  to  be  hung  as  a 
banner  across  a  thoroughfare,  see  that  I 
float  free  and  that  my  field  of  blue  hangs 
toward  the  North,  in  treets  running  East 
and  West;  and  to  the  East,  in  streets  run- 
ning North  and  South. 

120 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

Do  not  make  the  common  error  of  sus- 
pending me  horizontally  and  then  drape  me 
in  the  centre.  Just  bear  this  in  mind.  I  am 
the  Flag  of  the  United  States,  and  not  a  tri- 
colored  piece  of  cloth  to  be  used  any  how, 
any  place,  any  time. 

When  I  am  hung  vertically  to  be  viewed 
from  one  side  only,  my  stars  should  be  to 
the  right  as  you  face  me,  and  when  used  in 
company  with  other  flags,  please  place  me 
to  the  right  of  all  others.  The  military  right 
of  a  building  is  to  your  right  as  you  leave 
the  structure  from  its  principal  exit.  When 
I  am  worn  on  the  person  let  me  appear 
modestly  on  the  left  breast  or  lapel  and 
above  every  other  insignia. 

Never  permit  faded  or  worn  out  flags  to 
be  used  as  banners  or  for  secondary  pur- 
poses. Defend  me  I  beg  of  you  from  the 
avaricious  unpatriotic  profiteer,  who  would 
paint,  print,  or  attach  to  me  some  form  of 
advertising.  Determinedly  refuse  to  pur- 
chase any  article  using  me  for  gain.  Empha- 
size your  contempt  for  the  man  or  woman 
who  slightingly  refers  to,  or  abuses  and 
misuses  the  flag  of  your  country. 

Be  not  ashamed  to  honor  me.  I  am  the 
symbol  of  the  majesty  of  the  Republic.    I 

121 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

am  the  emblem  of  the  Power  of  its  united 
citizenship. 

The  true  patriot  sees  in  my  stars  and  bars, 
not  a  flag,  but  the  mighty  principles  repre- 
sented within  my  folds;  not  an  insignia,  but 
history,  force,  justice,  tolerance  and  love; 
not  a  convenience,  but  the  sturdy  champion 
of  right,  the  fearless  defender  of  the  op- 
pressed. To  all  who  believe  in  me,  I  am  the 
glorious  vision  of  eternal  hope,  illuminating 
the  darkness  of  ignorance  and  superstition; 
the  essence  of  human  liberty  and  progress; 
the  foundation  of  the  national  character, 
and  positive  assurer  of  the  perpetuity  of 
self-government. 


122 


NARRATIVE  XIII. 


■  ■■■■I Ill > I iiiiii i 

A  proper  understanding  of  the  Flag  of 
the  United  States  will  strengthen  the  na- 
tional character. 

To  know  the  Flag  of  Our  Country  is  a 
necessity;  to  appreciate  it,  a  duty. 

■  niiiiiiii  iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigiiiiiiiimimiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiHiiiiiiMiiiiii! 


NARRATIVE  XIII. 

IN  THE  preceding  narratives  I  have  pre- 
sented many  rules  bearing  upon  hoisting, 
lowering,  carrying,  displaying  or  saluting 
me.  I  feel  that  I  should  go  a  step  further 
and  give  you  at  least  a  passing  glimpse  of 
the  professional  side  of  my  life.  I  have 
every  reason  to  believe  that  every  well- 
meaning  citizen  will  appreciate  the  oppor- 
tunity of  acquainting  himself  or  herself, 
with  the  rules  and  regulations  promulgated 
for  my  welfare  by  the  Department  of  War. 

The  following  excerpts  will  convince  you 
that  there  are  many  things  concerning  the 
colors  that  should  be  universally  known,  and 
the  reader  will  no  doubt  be  impressed  writh 
the  fact,  that  a  well  informed  American 
citizen  adds  to  the  stability  of  society. 

Professionally,  I  bear  the  following  de- 
partmental designations :  "Garrison," 
"Post,"  "Storm,"  "Recruiting,"  "Serv- 
ice," "Regimental,"  "Field  Artillery," 
and  "Battallion  of  Signal  Corps,"  flags. 
While  my  form  does  not  change  materially, 
I  appear  in  several  sizes  under  the  designa- 
tions mentioned.   I  am  speaking  in  profes- 

125 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

sional  terms  in  the  hope  that  the  reader 
will  recognize  the  necessity  of  co-operation 
with  the  government  and  in  this  way  we 
can  the  better  understand  our  relationship. 

I  shall  first  take  up  the  matter  of  sizes, 
and  I  must  again  remind  you  that  I  am  deal- 
ing with  the  Army,  or  professional  side  of 
my  life.  No  matter  what  my  dimensions, 
whether  made  of  paper,  cotton,  linen,  bunt- 
ing, or  silk,  if  I  possess  the  thirteen  alter- 
nate stripes  of  red  and  white  and  the  blue 
field  adorned  with  forty-eight  five-pointed 
white  stars,  I  am  the  Flag  of  the  United 
States  and  should  be,  nay,  must  be,  accord- 
ed the  respect,  confidence  and  love  of  loyal, 
appreciative  people. 

"But  to  return  to  my  subject. 

"  Garrison, "  "Post,"  "Storm,"  and 
"Service,"  flags  being  in  constant  use  are 
made  of  wool  bunting,  because  of  the  ability 
of  this  material  to  withstand  the  ravages  of 
the  elements. 

The  "Garrison"  flag  is  one  of  the  largest 
of  government  standards,  having  a  length, 
or  fly,  of  thirty  feet  and  a  width,  or  hoist  of 
twenty.  This  is  raised  only  on  holidays  and 
other  important  occasions  and  is  usually 
displayed  on  a  staff  or  mast  seventy-five  to 

126 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

one  hundred  feet  in  height.  But  if  such  a 
one  is  not  available,  one  of  approximately 
fifty  feet  will  answer. 

As  "Post"  flag  I  am  nineteen  feet  long 
and  ten  feet  wide,  and  am  used  in  pleasant 
weather.  As  a  "Storm"  flag  I  am  reduced 
in  size,  having  a  fly  of  but  nine  feet  six 
inches  and  a  hoist  of  five  feet.  In  this  form 
I  am  better  adapted  for  use  in  turbulent 
weather,  and  during  the  long  vigil  at  the 
grave  of  Francis  Scott  Key  and  in  our  Na- 
tional Cemeteries. 

When  engaged  in  "Recruiting"  I  appear 
in  two  sizes,  commonly  designated  as 
' '  large ' '  and  *  *  small. ' '  As  the  former  I  have 
a  fly  of  nine  feet  six  inches  and  a  hoist  of 
five  feet;  as  the  latter,  a  fly  of  four  feet  six 
inches  and  a  hoist  of  two  and  thirty-seven 
hundredths  of  a  foot.  As  a  "Service"  flag 
I  am  used  for  drills  and  marches  and  all 
duties  other  than  battles  and  occasions  of 
ceremony. 

Regiments  of  Infantry,  Engineers,  and 
Artillery  Corps,  are  entitled  to  National 
flags  of  silk.  Such  standards  have  a  fly  of 
five  feet  six  inches  and  a  hoist  of  four  feet 
four  inches.  The  union  of  this  particular 
flag  is  two  feet  six  inches  in  length  and  like 
unions  of  all  United  States  flags,  extends 

127 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

downward  from  the  top  of  the  flag  to  the 
lower  edge  of  the  fourth  red  stripe.  The 
forty-eight  white  silk  stars  are  embroidered 
on  both  sides  of  the  field,  and  the  outer  edge 
of  the  colors,  with  the  exception  of  the 
hoist,  is  embellished  with  a  fringe  of  knotted 
yellow  silk  and  two  and  a  half  inches  in 
width. 

When  carried  I  am  mounted  on  a  pike  or 
staff  nine  feet  in  length,  including  spear- 
head and  ferrule.  Such  official  designations 
as  name  of  regiment,  corps,  battle  records 
and  other  appropriate  events  are  not  to  be 
painted  or  embroidered  on  any  part  of  the 
flag.  But  engraven  upon  a  band  of  silver 
fastened  to  pike  or  staff. 

Mounted  Engineers,  Cavalry  Regiments, 
Field  Artillery  and  Battalions  of  the  Signal 
Corps  are  also  entitled  to  national  colors  of 
silk  and  as  they  are  to  be  carried  by  mounted 
men,  I  am  slightly  reduced  in  size  to  facili- 
tate my  use  in  this  service,  I  have  a  fly  of 
four  feet  and  a  hoist  of  three,  mounted  on  a 
nine-foot  lance,  including  spearhead  and 
ferrule.  My  field  is  also  proportionally 
smaller  being  twenty-two  inches  long  and 
extending  downward,  as  in  other  United 
States  flags.  Trimming,  stars  and  the  plac- 
ing of  designations  to  be  observed  precisely 

128 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

the  same  as  for  other  service  standards. 

Silken  flags  of  the  United  States  are  to 
be  carried  in  battles  and  on  all  occasions  of 
ceremony.  When  not  in  use  I  am  kept  in 
dust  and  water-proof  cases. 

Service  colors  of  bunting  or  other  suitable 
material  are  in  all  respects  similar  to  the 
colors  of  silk,  but  are  to  be  used  at  drills  and 
no  marches  and  all  service  other  than  battles 
and  ceremonials. 


129 


NARRATIVE  XIV. 


About  the  altar  of  unity  and  service, 
upon  which  rests  the  Flag  we  love,  a  tol- 
erant people  should  kneel  in  grateful  re- 
membrance. Upon  this  hallowed  spot  let 
all  acclaim,  again  and  again,  their  undy- 
ing faith  in  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  and  a  determination  to  obey  its  be- 
hests. 


yz^n^ia^      A?.y-u-£5fe^tK^=- 


I 


NARRATIVE  XIV. 

HAVE  noticed  that  many  citizens,  men 
and  women  of  standing  in  their  respec- 
tive communities,  repeatedly  neglect  to 
recognize  or  acknowledge  me  as  I  pass  in 
review  or  parade.  You  may  well  judge  of 
my  surprise  when  I  discovered  that  they 
wore  on  waist  or  coat  the  insignia  of  well 
known  patriotic  fraternities.  Is  it  possible 
they  are  ignorant  of  the  courtesy  due  the 
Flag  of  their  country'?  Or  do  they  deliber- 
ately withhold  the  gracious  salutation  1  I 
am  charitable  enough  to  believe  it  careless- 
ness on  their  part  rather  than  a  determined 
effort  to  humiliate  me.  But  after  the  citizen 
has  been  informed  he  should  be  sincere 
enough  to  pay  me  the  respect  due,  or  be 
subjected  to  well  merited  criticism,  by  some 
one  qualified  to  defend  the  principle  in- 
volved. 

The  reason  for  and  manner  of  salutes  will 
probably  make  an  attractive  addition  to  this 
narrative  and  I  will  now  devote  a  few  words 
to  the  various  forms  of  this  civility. 

The  National  salue  is  made  by  firing 
twenty-one  guns.  The  salute  to  the  "Union" 

133 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

is  one  gun  for  each  State  and  is  given  at 
noon  on  the  Fourth  of  July  at  every  Post 
provided  with  suitable  artillery.  Its  pur- 
pose is  to  commemorate  the  signing  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  I  am  always 
displayed  during  this  important  ceremonial. 

All  officers  and  enlisted  men  passing  the 
uncased  colors,  if  in  uniform,  covered  or  un- 
covered, but  not  in  formation,  will  salute 
with  weapon  carried.  If  unarmed  or  in 
civilian  dress,  covered  or  uncovered,  with 
right  hand  salute. 

At  every  military  post  or  station  I  am 
hoisted  on  the  first  note  of  the  "Reveille," 
or  on  the  first  note  of  a  march,  if  a  band  be 
present.  I  am  lowered  at  the  sounding  of 
the  last  note  of  "Retreat"  and  while  de- 
scending, the  band,  should  there  be  one,  will 
play  the  "National  Anthem."  If  there 
should  be  no  band,  the  field  music  will  sound 
"To  the  Colors." 

Should  the  "National  Anthem"  be  played 
at  any  place  where  persons  belonging  to  the 
military  service  are  present,  all  officers  and 
enlisted  men,  not  in  formation,  shall  stand 
at  attention,  facing  the  music.  The  same 
rule  applies  to  sounding  "Retreat"  with  the 
exception,  that  all  face  the  Flag  in  the  ab- 
sence of  the  band. 

134 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

It  might  be  well  to  emphasize  one  rule 
that  has  to  my  knowledge  been  broken  on 
many  occasions.  When  the  "  National 
Anthem"  is  rendered  it  should  be  played 
through  without  "variation,  or  the  repeti- 
tion of  any  part  not  required  to  be  repeated 
to  make  it  complete." 

Foreign  ships  of  war,  when  entering  a 
harbor  or  passing  fortifications,  display  at 
their  mainmast  the  Flag  of  the  country  in 
whose  waters  they  are,  and  salute  it.  At  the 
conclusion  of  this  courtesy,  a  salute  of  the 
same  number  of  guns  will  be  promptly  re- 
turned. Failure  to  observe  this  rule  is  re- 
garded as  an  unfriendly  act  justifying  an 
explanation. 

When  one  devotes  a  few  moments  to  re- 
trospection, many  truths  force  themselves 
upon  the  startled  vision.  Usually  some  sim- 
ple fact  is  all  the  more  remarkable  because 
it  has  heretofore  escaped  attention. 

Here  is  one  of  those  interesting  bits  of 
history.  It  was  not  until  July  24th,  1866, 
that  General  Benjamin  F.  Butler  caused  to 
be  made  the  first  Flag  of  the  United  States 
wholly  of  American  materials  by  American 
workmen  and  machinery. 

135 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

Another  remarkable  fact  is,  I  have  never 
entered  a  National  conflict  without  altera- 
tion. 

In  our  first  misunderstanding  with  the 
Mother  Country,  my  alternate  stripes  of  red 
and  white  totaled  thirteen,  and  the  same 
number  of  five-pointed  white  stars  graced 
my  field  of  blue. 

The  War  of  1812  our  second  struggle  with 
Great  Britain,  found  me  with  fifteen  white 
stars,  five  rows  of  three  in  each  row,  and 
eight  red  and  seven  white  stripes. 

When  the  Army  of  Occupation  lead  by 
Generals  Taylor  and  Scott  entered  Mexico 
in  1846  my  stars  had  increased  to  twenty- 
five  and  my  stripes  reduced  to  their  original 
number. 

During  the  titantic  struggle  for  the 
preservation  of  the  Union,  eleven  States  at- 
tempted to  withdraw  their  stars  from  my 
field  of  blue.  Abraham  Lincoln  retained 
them  in  spite  of  this  action,  and,  throughout 
the  bloody  period  my  thirty-four  stars  and 
thirteen  stripes  led  the  Federal  Troops  to 
victory.  Before  the  conclusion  of  hostilities, 
however,  two  new  stars,  representing  West 
Virginia  and  Nevada  were  added. 

The    conflict    with    Spain    in    1898    was 

136 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

fought  under  forty-five  stars  and  the  requi- 
site number  of  stripes. 

During  the  World  War,  forty-eight  stars 
beautified  my  blue  field  and  these  together 
with  my  alternate  stripes  of  red  and  white 
symbolized  the  righteous  aims  of  the  heroic 
citizens  of  the  Republic  who  determindedly 
battled  to  maintain  a  government  devoted 
to  Justice  and  brotherly  love. 

We  must  remember  that  we  who  live  are 
the  beneficiaries — we  enjoy  the  results  of 
the  sacrifices  made  by  the  builders  of  the 
Republic.  We  should  devote  our  lives  and 
energies  to  carrying  out  the  wishes  of  the 
founders  of  self-government.  We  cannot 
escape  this  responsibility  without  the  loss  of 
our  self  respect.  We  must  leave  nothing  un- 
done in  our  day  and  hour  that  would  retard 
the  onward  march  of  that  government  and 
its  peoples. 

Let  us  therefore  resolve  to  seek  no  more 
than  we  are  willing  to  give.  This  will  not 
alone  insure  our  success  but  make  certain 
the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  our  whole 
country.  In  the  home,  the  church,  the 
school,  office,  shop,  and  field,  let  all  accept 
the  responsibilities  of  an  exalted  citizen- 
ship, a  duty,  we  must  not  in  Justice  to  our- 
selves evade. 

137 


NARRATIVE  XV. 


■  llllllllltllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllMlllllllllilMIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIil 

Be  not  ungrateful  toward  our  honored 
dead.  Their  reward  must  be  an  imperish- 
able place  in  the  hearts  of  a  responsive 
people.  Prove  your  patriotism  by  your 
memory  of  them.  Let  their  sacrifice  in- 
spire us  to  make  certain  they  did  not  die 
in  vain. 

To  those  who  live,  weakened,  scarred  and 
torn,  we  owe  a  greater  obligation.  In  ac- 
cepting their  young  manhood  we  pledged 
our  sacred  honor.  We  would  gladly  pay. 
Today  the  account  is  due.  We  cannot 
quibble  over  the  settlement;  we  cannot  es- 
cape the  responsibility.     We  dare  not. 

1 1 : 1 1 .  L 1 1  i  1 1  ■  1 1 1  ■  1 1  •  i  [  I  >.  1 1 1    !  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ,  r  <  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 :  1 1  •  ■  1 1  II  llll  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I 


NARRATIVE  XV. 

ON  MEMORIAL  DAY,  May  30th  of  each 
year,  at  all  army  posts,  I,  the  Flag  of  the 
United  States  am  displayed  at  half  mast 
from  sunrise  until  mid-day.  Immediately 
at  12  M.,  the  band  or  field  music  will  play 
appropriate  selections,  while  a  national 
salute  of  twenty-one  guns  is  fired.  At  the 
conclusion  of  this  tribute,  I  am  raised  to  the 
top  of  the  staff  where  I  am  to  remain  until 
sunset. 

After  being  hoisted  to  peak,  if  band  be 
present,  one  or  two  patriotic  airs  are  usually 
rendered  and  in  this  simple  manner  a  testi- 
monial of  respect  is  paid  our  heroic  dead,  in 
grateful  remembrance  of  their  devotion  to 
their  country. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  know  that  the 
colors  of  a  regiment  should  not  be  placed  in 
mourning  or  draped,  except  under  instruc- 
tions from  the  War  Department.  When  so 
ordered,  two  streamers  of  crepe,  seven  feet 
long  and  twelve  inches  wide,  are  attached 
to  the  ferrule  below  the  spear. 

This  covers  the  important  regulations 
relating  to  me  and  I  have  reproduced  them 

141 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

for  the  purpose  of  emphasizing  the  need  for 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  rules  of  con- 
duct toward  me,  the  Flag  of  Your  Country. 
I  also  believe,  that  I  am  at  this  time,  justi- 
fied in  defending  Memorial  Day. 

Why  should  it  be  necessary  to  make  a  de- 
fense, you  ask?  In  answer  to  this  question 
I  am  forced  to  say  that  my  experiences  dur- 
ing the  past  one  hundred  and  forty-four 
years  have  made  me  tremble.  I  fear  we  look 
altogether  too  lightly  upon  the  memory  of 
the  men  who  have  made  possible  this  mar- 
velous Republic.  I  fear  that  in  our  great 
prosperity  we  forget  the  little  things  that 
make  our  lives  sincere  and  beautiful. 

Is  it  elevating  to  select  this  day  for  jubi- 
lation? Is  it  an  hour  for  merriment?  Must 
we  celebrate  it  as  a  boisterous  holiday?  I  do 
not  advocate  long  and  mournful  faces;  we 
get  our  share  in  any  event ;  but  it  does  seem 
to  me  that  it  would  be  eminently  fitting, 
were  we  to  make  it  a  serious  business,  this 
recalling  and  honoring  the  memory  of  our 
sacred  dead. 

The  truth  is,  that  it  is  a  patriotic  duty; 
yes,  a  personal  and  collective  duty  and  one 
that  must  receive  the  earnest  consideration 
of  the  people.  A  quiet  observance  of  the 
day  will  work  little  hardship.  We  can,  with- 

142 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

out  loss  to  the  national  character,  show  by 
our  deeds,  sincerely  and  honestly,  our  deep 
appreciation  of  the  service  and  sacrifice  of 
those  who  have  gone  before,  by  respectfully 
remembering  this  day. 

It  is  well  for  us  that  we  do  not  wander 
too  far  from  the  doctrine  of  right.  It  will 
do  us  no  harm  to  increase  our  respect  for 
every  son  of  liberty  who  died,  that  we 
might  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  self-sacrifice. 
Forget  it  if  you  will,  but  thousands  sleep  in 
unknown  graves,  and  in  memory  of  these, 
if  nothing  more,  let  this  day  be  consecrated. 

Be  eager,  my  friend,  to  emulate  the  un- 
selfish service  to  humanity,  rendered  by  the 
Founders  and  Defenders  of  the  Union. 
Strive  to  become  well-balanced,  thoughtful 
citizens,  in  practice  and  theory.  Cultivate  a 
greater  love  for  this,  your  country  and 
mine.  Such  a  resolve  will  serve  to  strength- 
en the  fibre  of  the  individual  and  to  insure 
a  stability  and  loyalty  in  the  hearts  of  the 
people,  who  must  be  ever  ready  to  serve  the 
nation  and  its  flag. 


143 


NARRATIVE  XVI. 


tiiiiiiiiiimimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiimiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiti 

The  manner  in  which  the  Flag  of  the 
United  States  is  displayed  proves  the  abil- 
ity of  the  citizen  to  properly  observe  the 
wishes  of  his  Government. 

iiiiimiiiHiiiiiiiii Milium iiiiiimimiiiii iiiinni mi 


NARRATIVE  XVI. 

I  AM  SURE  you  will  recognize,  that  as  the 
official  flag  of  the  United  States,  my 
Union  contains  forty-eight  white  five-point- 
ed stars,  arranged  in  six  rows  of  eight  stars 
in  each  row,  and  each  star  represents  a 
Commonwealth  ratifying  the  Constitution 
and  received  into  the  sisterhood  of  States. 

The  " Union  Jack"  is  my  blue  field  con- 
taining the  forty-eight  stars,  and  when 
used  as  a  flag,  has  a  special  significance. 
Ships  at  anchor  may  fly  this  part  of  me 
from  the  "Jack  Staff"  at  the  bow  of  the 
vessel,  from  sunrise  to  sunset.  When  ap- 
pearing on  the  foremast,  it  calls  for  a  pilot. 
It  is  permissible  to  fire  a  gun  to  attract  at- 
tention to  this  signal. 


When  floating  from  the  "Mizzen  Mast 


>? 


or  yard  arm  it  denotes  a  general  court  mar- 
tial, or  court  of  inquiry  is  in  session.  Diplo- 
matic officers  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  above  the  rank  of  charge  d'affaires, 
when  paying  an  official  visit  afloat,  are 
privileged  to  use  the  "Union  Jack"  on  the 
staff  at  the  vessel's  bow. 

147 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

Yachts  may  also  display  a  " Union  Jack" 
while  at  anchor,  if  hoisted  on  a  "  Jack  Staff" 
between  8  A.  M.,  and  sunset,  providing 
washed  clothes  are  not  " triced  up." 

My  thirteen  alternate  red  and  white 
stripes  represent  the  original  States.  In  the 
years  gone  by  it  was  said  that  the  top  red 
stripe  represented  the  most  northern  colony, 
and  the  bottom  stripe  the  one  farthest  south ; 
the  others  in  their  geographical  order. 

Another  reading  of  the  stripes  is  given, 
but  not  authoritatively.  It  is  stated  that  the 
top  stripe  was  given  to  Delaware,  the  first 
colony  to  ratify  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States;  the  second  to  Pennsylvania; 
the  third,  to  New  Jersey;  the  fourth,  to 
Georgia;  the  fifth,  to  Connecticut;  the  sixth, 
to  Massachusetts;  the  seventh,  to  Maryland; 
the  eighth,  to  South  Carolina;  the  ninth,  to 
New  Hampshire;  the  tenth,  to  Virginia;  the 
eleventh,  to  New  York;  the  twelfth,  to  North 
Carolina,  and  the  thirteenth,  to  Rhode 
Island. 

Still  another  suggestion  for  my  seven  red 
and  six  white  stripes  would  be  a  graceful 
compliment  to  the  original  colonies  as  well 
as  the  commemoration  of  a  historical  truth. 
Instead  of  the  stripes  denoting  the  priority 
of  the  colonies  as  they  came  into  the  union, 

148 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

give  each  stripe  the  name  of  the  colony  sup- 
plying the  greater  number  of  men  for  the 
Continental  Army.  If  this  were  done, 
Massachusetts  would  be  the  first  or  top  red 
stripe  with  67,907;  Connecticut  the  second, 
with  31,939;  Virginia  third,  with  26,678; 
Pennsylvania  fourth,  with  25,678;  New 
York  fifth,  with  17,781;  Maryland  sixth, 
with  13,912;  New  Hampshire  seventh,  with 
12,497;  New  Jersey  eighth,  with  10,720; 
North  Carolina  ninth,  with  7,263;  South 
Carolina  tenth,  with  6,417;  Rhode  Island 
eleventh,  with  5,908;  Georgia  twelfth,  with 
2,677;  and  Delaware  thirteenth,  with  2,286. 

The  reading  of  the  stars  will  afford  infor- 
mation and  pleasure  and  I  fear  very  few  can, 
without  hesitation,  point  to  the  star  repre- 
senting the  State  of  their  birth.  I  think  it  a 
splendid  idea  if  this  were  given  more  atten- 
tion. Have  you  a  little  flag  of  the  United 
States  in  your  home  or  office?  No?  I  wish 
you  would  correct  this.  It  is  very  important 
that  you  keep  me  near  you  always.  My  in- 
fluence is  for  good,  and  you  should  make  it 
possible  for  me  to  serve  you  every  precious 
moment. 

Should  you  happen  to  have  me  at  hand 
place  me  before  you  and  let  us  see  how 
much  we  know  concerning  the  stars  in  my 

149 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

field  of  blue;  first  place  me  before  you  so 
that  my  stripes  will  fly  to  the  right.  Read- 
ing from  left  to  right  the  first  star  is  Dela- 
ware, because  it  was  the  first  of  the  Colonies 
to  ratify  the  proposed  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  this  event  oc- 
curring December  7,  1787. 

If  you  will  once  again  note  the  date  of  my 
birth,  June  14,  1777,  you  will  recognize  the 
fact  that  I  was  ten  years  old  when  this  ac- 
tion was  taken.  Two  more  Colonies  followed 
the  footsteps  of  Delaware  during  the  year 
1787;  Pennsylvania  on  December  12,  and 
New  Jersey  on  December  18.  Georgia  was 
the  first  to  swing  into  the  Union  in  the  year 
1788,  doing  so  January  2.  Connecticut 
joined  the  new  Constellation  four  days 
later,  on  January  6;  then  came  Massa- 
chusetts, February  6,  Maryland,  April  8, 
and  South  Carolina,  May  23.  This  com- 
pletes the  first  or  top  line  of  stars. 

New  Hampshire  is  the  first  star  in  the 
second  line  of  eight,  having  endorsed  the 
Constitution  June  21,  1788.  Virginia  joined 
June  26,  and  New  York  followed  on  July  26, 
the  last  colony  to  ratify  in  the  year  1788. 
The  twelfth  star  North  Carolina  the  fourth 
in  the  second  line  did  not  become  a  part  of 
the  Union  until  November  21,   1789,  and 

150 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

Rhode  Island  the  last  of  the  thirteen  colonies 
and  the  fifth  star  in  the  second  line  did  not 
endorse  the  action  of  the  others  until  May 
29,  1790;  thirteen  years  after  I  was  born. 

Proceed  as  you  have  begun  and  you  will 
find  that  the  fourteenth  star  represents  Ver- 
mont, that  colony  having  joined  the  others 
on  March  4,  1791.  The  fifteenth  is  Ken- 
tucky, June  1, 1792.  The  sixteenth,  Tennes- 
see, June  1,  1796.  Now  follow  in  regular 
order  the  number  of  star  and  the  State  rep- 
resented, as  well  as  the  date  of  ratification. 

Third  Line  of  Stars. 

17th  Star— Ohio Nov.  29,  1802 

18th  "  —Louisiana April  30,  1812 

19th  "  —Indiana Dec.  11,  1816 

20th  "  —Mississippi Dec.  10,  1817 

21st  "  —Illinois Dec.  3,  1818 

22nd  "  —Alabama Dec.  14,  1819 

23rd  "  —Maine March  15,  1820 

24th  "  —Missouri Aug.  10,  1821 

Fourth  Line  of  Stars. 

25th  Star — Arkansas June  15,  1836 

26th     "    —Michigan Jan.  26,  1837 

27th     "    —Florida March  3,  1845 

28th     "    —Texas Dec.  29,  1845 

29th     "    —Iowa Dec.  28,  1846 

151 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 


Fourth  Line  of  Stars— Cont. 

30th  Star— Wisconsin May       29,  1846 

31st      "    — California Sept. 

32nd    "    — Minnesota May 

Fifth  Line  of  Stars. 
33rd  Star— Oregon Feb. 


34th 
35th 
36th 
37th 
38th 
39th 
40th 


— Kansas Jan. 

— West  Va —June 

— Nevada Oct. 

— Nebraska March 

— Colorado Aug. 

— North  Dak Nov. 

— South  Dak Nov. 


Sixth  Line  of  Stars. 
41st    Star — Montana Nov. 


42nd 
43rd 
44th 
45th 
46th 
47th 
48th 


— Washington Nov. 

— Idaho July 

— Wyoming July 

— Utah Jan. 

— Oklahoma Nov. 

— New  Mexico Jan. 

— Arizona Feb. 


9, 

1850 

H, 

1858 

14, 

1859 

1, 

1861 

19, 

1863 

31, 

1864 

1, 

1867 

1, 

1876 

2, 

1889 

2, 

1889 

8, 

1889 

11, 

1889 

3, 

1890 

10, 

1890 

4, 

1896 

16, 

1907 

6, 

1912 

14, 

1912 

152 


NARRATIVE  XVII. 


Ill  1 1  Mil  II IIIIMIII ■■■•■■•■Ill II  Mill  llllll  llllllllll II I II 1 1 II 1 1! 

The  real  American  understands  and  ap- 
preciates his  Government  and  his  Flag.  He 
realizes  the  necessity  for  the  enforcement 
of  its  laws.  To  him  his  Country  is  an  im- 
perishable legacy  entrusted  to  his  keep- 
ing; his  Flag  typifies  American  ideals.  He 
is  thankful  and  unafraid.  He  is  not 
ashamed  to  advocate  an  intense  American- 
ism; an  Americanism  that  declares  Amer- 
ica can  best  serve  humanity  by  remaining 
America. 

IIIIIIIIIIIIIII1 Illlllllllill Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Illlii 


NARRATIVE  XVII. 

THESE  narratives  would  be  incomplete 
did  I  not  make  an  effort  to  honor  the 
name  of  Francis  Scott  Key,  the  American 
poet,  and  author  of  "The  Star  Spangled 
Banner."  He  was  born  in  Frederick  Coun- 
ty, Maryland,  August  9th,  1780,  and  died  at 
Baltimore,  January  11th,  1843,  at  the  age 
of  63. 

His  honored  ashes  rested  in  Green  Mount 
Cemetery  for  several  years,  when  friends 
and  relatives  recalled  his  desire  "to  sleep 
beneath  the  shade  of  the  everlasting  hills/' 
and  removed  his  remains  to  Mount  Olivet 
Cemetery,  Frederick,  where  they  now  rest. 

Let  every  American  recall  the  incidents 
responsible  for  the  writing  of  this  inspiring 
song  of  the  Republic.  Every  child  should 
know  it;  sing  it;  love  it.  None  are  too  poor, 
too  humble  to  do  it  reverence.  Its  words 
have  eased  the  pain  of  battered  bodies  on  a 
thousand  fields  of  carnage.  Its  strains  have 
intermingled  with  the  cannon's  roar.  Its  in- 
spiring influence  has  dominated  the  peoples 
of  every  land.  In  unknown,  unheard  of 
corners  of  the  earth,  its  sweet  music  has 

155 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

awakened  the  dormant  soul  to  action,  and 
made  possible  a  higher  and  better  civiliza- 
tion. 

Direct  your  imagination  my  friend  to  the 
memorable  September  night,  when  sixteen 
British  vessels  directed  their  fire  against  the 
gallant  defenders  of  Fort  McHenry.  It  be- 
gan in  the  eariy  dawn  of  the  13th  of  Septem- 
ber and  from  that  moment  a  veritable  deluge 
of  shot  and  shell  fell  upon  the  intrepid 
Americans.  Every  effort  was  made  by  both 
land  and  naval  forces  to  annihilate  these 
heroic  men.  Assault  followed  assault,  and 
as  darkness  fell  upon  the  scene,  the  British 
fleet  determined  to  capture  the  fortification 
at  any  cost. 

Attacked  on  all  sides,  the  defeat  of  the 
gallant  defenders  seemed  but  a  question  of 
hours.  The  British  regulars  commanded  by 
General  Ross  advanced  along  the  North 
Point  road.  Still  the  Americans  did  not 
waver.  All  night  long  the  fortunes  of  war 
rested  first  upon  one  and  then  upon  the 
other.  Favored  by  darkness  the  fleet  again 
moved  in  and  redoubled  their  efforts.  The 
undaunted  Americans  replying,  shell  with 
shell,  force  with  force. 

It  was  during  these  doubtful  hours,  that 
Francis  Scott  Key,  detained  upon  a  vessel 

156 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

closely  guarded  by  the  British,  watched  the 
ebb  and  flow  of  the  battle  through  the  long 
hours  of  the  night.  Would  the  morning 
ever  come?  The  occasional  bursting  of  a 
shell  disclosed  the  fact  that  the  Flag  still 
floated  above  the  battle  din.  How  he  prayed 
for  victory.  Every  bursting  shell  renewed 
the  hope  that  Fort  McHenry  withstood  the 
terrific  onslaught. 

He  may  have  feared  for  the  safety  of  the 
city  for  he  knew  that  British  land  forces 
contained  the  pick  of  Wellington's  Army. 
The  same  that  humbled  Napoleon  at  Water- 
loo; the  same  that  defeated  the  Americans 
at  Bladensburg;  the  same  who  captured  the 
City  of  Washington  and  destroyed  both 
Capitol  and  White  House. 

It  was  a  critical  hour  for  the  Republic. 
The  defeat  of  our  forces  would  probably  en- 
danger the  very  life  of  the  nation.  And  so 
he  waited  with  bated  breath  the  passing  of 
the  night.  His  anxious  eyes  caught  the  first 
shaft  of  light  as  it  raised  from  out  the  sea. 

"See,"  he  exclaimed,  "see,  it  is  still  there, 
the  Flag  of  my  country.  God  be  praised,  it 
is  still  there." 

It  is  well  that  every  American  worthy  of 
the  name  should  remember  these  prophetic 

157 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

words,  for  this  inspiring  moment  gave  to 
succeeding  generations  the  anthem  of  lib- 
erty and  justice. 

Kemember  also  that  in  spite  of  an  un- 
precedented attack  by  land  and  sea,  with 
unlimited  supplies  and  a  most  determined 
effort,  the  men  of  Fort  McHenry  met  and 
repulsed  the  enemy  and  saved  the  day. 

As  the  morning  sun  burst  through  the 
hovering  clouds  of  battle  smoke,  its  wel- 
comed rays  illuminated  the  folds  of  your 
country's  Flag,  floating  high  above  the 
shattered  but  victorious  defenders. 

This  was  the  wonderful  scene  that  met  the 
eyes  of  Francis  Scott  Key.  Inspired  by  the 
stirring  experiences  through  which  he 
passed,  he  drafted  the  song  that  endeared 
him  to  every  lover  of  human  liberty  for  all 
time.  On  the  following  day,  September 
14,  he  completed  the  poem.  It  was  sung 
for  the  first  time  publicly  at  the  Holiday 
Street  Theatre  and  soon  after  was  played 
by  the  United  States  Military  Band  sta- 
tioned at  New  Orleans. 

Above  the  grave  of  Francis  Scott  Key,  I 
forever  float,  never  removed  except  to  be 
replaced  by  another.  Although  immortal- 
ized in  song  I  beg  you  to  keep  forever  green 

158 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

the  name  of  the  inspired  author  of  "The 
Star  Spangled  Banner." 

"Oh!  Thus  be  it  ever,  when  freemen  shall  stand, 
Between  their  loved  home  and  war's  desolation; 
Blest  with  victory  and  peace,  may  the  Heaven-rescued  land 
Praise  the  Power  that  made  and  preserved  us  a  nation. 
Then  conquer  we  must,  when  our  cause  it  is  just, 
And  this  be  our  motto :  'In  God  is  our  trust' 
And  'The  Star  Spangled  Banner'  in  truth  shall  wave, 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free,  and  the  home  of  the  brave." 

—FRANCIS  SCOTT  KEY,  Sept.  14,  1814. 


159 


NARRATIVE  XVIII. 


•  IIIIIHIIHIIIItHIIMtlHMMIllllllllltllllltlllllllllHHIIHMIIIIIIIMIIIIIItlllllll 

Defend,  Oh  citizen,  the  public  school. 
Promote  and  foster  it,  for  it  is  the  indis- 
pensable foundation  of  our  national  great- 
ness. Every  son  and  daughter  of  the  Re- 
public is  entitled  to  an  education.  Knowl- 
edge strengthens  the  intellectual,  moral 
and  commercial  fibre  of  the  masses.  We 
must  make  possible  a  more  intelligent 
citizen. 


NARRATIVE  XVIII. 

I  HAVE  noticed  with  considerable  alarm 
the  lack  of  patriotic  instruction  in  some  of 
our  public  schools.  In  one  of  our  institu- 
tions of  learning  an  alien  not  eligible  to 
citizenship,  raises  me  daily  during  the  school 
term  to  the  peak  of  the  staff.  Would  it  not 
serve  to  impress  the  hundreds  of  pupils  at- 
tending this  particular  educational  institu- 
tion, were  I  to  be  raised  and  lowered  by  the 
loving  hands  of  sons  and  daughters  of  the 
Republic? 

Such  errors,  unintentional  perhaps,  do 
not  serve  to  awaken  a  reverence  for  me,  the 
symbol  of  our  government.  Had  the  teach- 
ers of  a  generation  ago  exhibited  a  similar 
attitude,  you  would  not  retain  so  deep  a  re- 
gard for  the  principles  represented  in  me. 

Please  note  the  number  of  times  you  will 
find  me  improperly  displayed  in  some  class 
room,  and  over,  or  in  front  of,  some  school. 
I  have  noticed  passers  by  frequently  stop, 
and  compassionately  gaze  at  my  ragged  and 
forlorn  appearance. 

While  I  am  aware  that  there  exists  in  the 
Navy  an  unwritten  law,  that  I  should  never 

163 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

be  washed,  nevertheless  I  think  it  would  be 
well  to  overlook  this  compliment  and  sub- 
mit me  to  some  process  that  would  at  least 
make  me  presentable.  Unfortunately,  I 
have  on  many  occasions  needed  a  bath,  as 
badly  as  did  some  of  the  children. 

They  are  taught  to  keep  their  faces, 
hands  and  bodies  clean  in  order  that  they 
may  command  respect;  so  why  not  give  me 
the  same  consideration^  I  can  assure  you 
that  a  dirty,  torn,  or  faded  flag  of  the  United 
States,  does  not  flatter  the  patriotic  owner. 
Such  a  flag  is  not  an  impressive  sight,  and 
I  sincerely  hope  an  effort  will  be  made  to 
see  that  I  am  at  least  presentable  when  dis- 
played. 

I  often  thrill  with  pleasure  and  grateful- 
ness when  I  behold  a  patriotic  instructor, 
earnest  enough  to  offer  an  inspiring  lesson, 
and  thus  encourage  children  to  love  and 
serve  me.  It  does  not  consume  very  much 
time  to  awaken  the  spark  of  patriotism  that 
multiplies  their  knowledge  of  their  relation- 
ship to  the  Flag  of  their  Country.  Make  it 
possible  for  them  to  understand  their  in- 
debtedness, not  only  to  those  who  have  gone 
before,  but  also  to  the  glorious  principles 
represented  by  my  stars  and  stripes.  Then, 
they  will  fully  realize  that  their  future  suc- 

164 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

cess,  happiness,  prosperity,  and  safety,  rests 
entirely  in  their  understanding  of  me. 

There  are  many  well  meaning  citizens 
who  insist  upon  referring  to  me  as  the 
"American  Flag."  This  is,  I  presume,  be- 
cause they  do  not  realize  that  there  are  sev- 
eral that  might  come  under  this  heading.  Do 
not  forget  the  great  Nation  to  the  North  is 
also  a  part  of  this  continent.  Then  there  is 
Mexico  to  the  south,  as  well  as  Central  and 
South  America.  This  being  the  case,  the 
question  arises,  when  one  refers  to  the 
" American "  flag,  which  one  is  meant? 

Numberless  times  I  am  called  affection- 
ately "Old  Glory,"  "Stars  and  Stripes," 
"Flag  of  the  Union,"  "Flag  of  Liberty," 
and  similar  patriotic  titles.  But  my  right 
name  is  "The  Flag  of  the  United  States." 
And  while  I  appreciate  being  referred  to  in 
this  friendly  manner,  I  would  like  to  be  ad- 
dressed occasionally  by  my  right  name. 

I  believe  the  subject  deserves  serious  at- 
tention, and  I  suggest  that  we  go  into  the 
matter  thoroughly.  On  the  14th  of  June, 
17T7,  Congress  adopted  the  following  reso- 
lution : 

"That  the  Flag  of  the  United  States  be  thirteen 
stripes  of  alternate  red  and  white,  and  that  the 
Union   be   thirteen    stars,  white   in   a   blue    field." 

165 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

Again  on  January  13th,  1794  Congress 
passed,  and  the  President  signed  the  fol- 
lowing act : 

"Be  it  enacted,  etc.  That  from  and  after  the 
first  day  of  May,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
ninety-five,  the  Flag  of  the  United  States  be  fif- 
teen stripes,  alternate  red  and  white,  and  the 
Union  be  fifteen  stars,  in  a  blue  field." 

On  the  14th  of  April,  1818,  Congress 
made  the  following  law: 

"Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  etc.  That  from  and 
after  the  4th  day  of  July  next,  the  Flag  of  the 
United  States  be  thirteen  horizontal  stripes,  alter- 
nate red  and  white,  that  the  Union  have  twenty 
stars  in  a  blue  field. 

"Section  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted  that  on 
the  admission  of  every  new  State  into  the  Union, 
one  star  be  added  to  the  Union  of  the  Flag.  And 
such  addition  shall  take  effect  on  the  4th  of  July 
that  succeeding  such  admission." 

This  covers  the  legislation  connected  with 
my  name,  and  while  I  am  grateful  for  the 
many  affectionate  terms  applied,  I  think  it 
no  more  than  right  that  I  be  addressed  as 
often  as  possible  by  the  name  to  which  I  am 
justly  entitled,  the  Flag  of  the  United 
States. 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  I  am  apt  to  be 
considered  a  common  scold,  I  am  determined 
to  direct  your  attention  to  the  abuses  I  have 
suffered.  I  believe  that  you  will,  my  friend, 
make  an  effort  to  elevate  me  in  the  opinion 

166 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

of  others.  I  plead  for  and  hope  to  receive 
the  co-operation  of  all  instructors.  There 
can  be  no  evasion,  no  delay. 

Your  loyal  effort  will  hasten  the  hour 
when  I,  the  Flag  of  the  United  States,  will 
receive  at  all  times,  and  in  all  places,  the 
consideration  and  respect  due  the  recog- 
nized representative  of  all  the  people. 

Let  the  school  make  the  first  and  lasting 
impression  upon  the  minds  of  the  children. 
Tell  them  of  my  relationship  to  the  Consti- 
tution. See  to  it  that  all  boys  and  girls 
know  why  the  Colonists  desired  to  form  a 
"more  perfect  Union. "  When  this  thought 
is  thoroughly  understood,  drive  home  the 
idea  that  good  citizenship  begins  with 
obedience  to  law  and  order. 

See  to  it  that  chubby  hands  fondle  my 
folds;  see  to  it  that  all  look  upon  me  with 
reverence ;  see  to  it  that  the  heart  of  advanc- 
ing youth  beats  in  harmony  with  hardiness 
and  valor;  purity  and  innocence;  vigilance, 
perseverance  and  justice;  see  to  this,  and 
you  at  once  create  the  foundation  of  a 
citizenship  as  loyal,  as  it  must  be  fraternal; 
a  citizenship  that  will  forever  stand  the 
fearless  advocate  of  a  true  manhood  and 
womanhood.    The   product   of  your   labor; 

167 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

your  loyalty  to  the  principles  of  self-govern- 
ment. 

The  first  amendment  to  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States  offers  an  inspiring 
study;  particular  emphasis  should  be  placed 
upon  the  right  of  the  people  to  "  peacefully 
assemble;"  we  must  never  forget  that  the 
power  of  the  Government  rests  with  the 
people.  That  the  Constitution  is  construc- 
tive, not  destructive,  and  at  all  times  the 
people  have  the  inalienable  right  to  move 
and  amend. 

Therefore  I  beg  of  you  to  make  every 
effort  to  encourage  a  practical  patriotism. 
This  will  be  the  easier  accomplished  by  an 
observance  of  the  rules  of  conduct  toward 
me  the  Flag  of  your  Country. 

Do  not  overlook  the  positive  fact  that  the 
school  is  the  keystone  of  American  citizen- 
ship. Every  girl  and  boy  must  recognize 
that  there  are  such  things  as  obedience  and 
discipline,  and  that  education  is  the  ladder 
to  mental,  physical,  commercial  and  moral 
achievement.  Education  is  the  enemy  of 
illiteracy  and  intolerance.  The  school  makes 
certain  the  students'  relationship  to  the 
home,  the  church,  the  State,  the  Nation. 
With  a  proper  regard  for  its  tremendous  in- 

168 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

fluence,  instructors  will  strengthen  the  love 
of  country  and  create  a  citizenship  ready 
and  willing  to  defend  the  priceless  heritage 
intrusted  to  our  care. 


169 


NARRATIVE  XIX. 


minimi 1 1  ii  in  i  mi linn in in ■■  i  nun 

Oh,  Glorious  Master  of  the  World,  loving 
Father  of  all  peoples  everywhere,  give  me, 
the  Flag  of  the  United  States,  strength  to 
triumph  over  them  who  rise  against  thee. 
Give  me  also  charity,  that  I  may  forgive 
mine  enemies.  Give  me  power,  that  I  may 
insure  eternal  peace.  Cause  me  to  be  borne 
on  high,  above  them  who  would  destroy 
me,  and  gather  beneath  my  folds  all  peo- 
ple who  desire  to  serve  their  God,  their 
Country  and  their  Flag. 

ii mum  in  iiiiiiiiiiinii  in  ii 11(11111111 inmiiiaiiiiii 


NARRATIVE  XIX. 

AS  MY  narratives  draw  to  a  close,  I  in- 
sist that  you  do  not  lose  sight  of  the 
immutable  truth,  that  God  actually  inspired 
the  founding  of  the  American  Republic. 
You  must  not  forget  that  it  was  His  gracious 
will  that  this  government,  the  United  States 
of  America,  should  become  the  defender  of 
religious  and  political  liberty. 

The  first  historical  reference  to  the  colors 
Red,  White  and  Blue  is  found  in  the  Holy 
Bible.  Let  me  refresh  your  memory.  When 
our  Lord  gave  the  "Ten  Commandments ' ' 
together  with  the  "Book  of  Laws"  to 
Moses,  they  were  immediately  placed  in  the 
"Ark  of  the  Covenant"  within  the  Taber- 
nacle. This  notable  structure  was  made  of 
"ten  curtains  of  fine  linen,  blue  and  purple 
and  scarlet." 

"Moreover,  thou  shalt  make  the  Tabernacle 
with  ten  curtains  of  fine  linen,  and  blue,  and 
purple,  and  scarlet."     (Exodus  xxvi) 

This  is  positively  the  first  reference  found 
that  associates  the  colors  now  known  to  us, 
as  our  own  Red,  White  and  Blue. 

The  proof  that  God's  right  hand  rested 
upon  the  young  Republic  can  be  found  in 

173 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

the  desire  of  the  founders  of  this  Govern- 
ment to  recognize  His  supremacy. 

It  was  the  one  thought  that  actuated  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers  to  sail  uncharted  seas  in 
order  that  they  might  find  a  land  where  they 
could  openly  and  freely  serve  the  Master. 

From  the  landing  of  the  "Mayflower"  in 
1620,  until  this  hour,  the  Church  has  multi- 
plied our  love  for  the  home.  The  home  is 
and  ever  will  be  the  founder;  yes,  the  de- 
fender of  society;  and  the  Church,  the  corner 
stone  of  the  home,  is  the  hope  and  the  sal- 
vation of  the  nation. 

Weaken  the  Church,  and  you  weaken  the 
character  of  the  citizen.  Weaken  the  citizen 
and  you  destroy  the  home.  Destroy  the 
home  and  you  demolish  society.  We  must 
not,  dare  not,  neglect  God.  The  Church  must 
ever  remain  our  inspiration  and  guide. 

Let  me,  the  Flag  of  the  United  States, 
admonish  you  to  be  faithful  to  the  teach- 
ings of  God's  selected  servants.  Multiply 
your  desire  to  serve  your  fellow  man;  let 
patriotism  prevail  among  you  in  order  that 
you  can  the  more  appreciate  the  full  signifi- 
cance of  Justice  and  Equality. 

Examine  my  crimson  bars.  Do  they  not 
remind  you  of  Him  who  gave  His  only  he- 
rn 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

gotten  Son  in  order  that  civilization  might 
be  saved?  Do  not  my  stars  recall  the  birth 
of  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  Steward  of  God, 
the  lowly  teacher  of  men? 

Visualize  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  as  they 
subscribed  to  the  first  civic  document  de- 
claring for  human  liberty.  Repeat  with  me 
its  introductory  paragraph,  "In  ye  name  of 
Almighty  God,  Amen." 

Throughout  the  years  of  suffering  and 
doubt;  of  blood  and  death;  of  sacrifice  and 
misery,  our  faith  in  God  has  never  wavered. 
Remember  then,  my  most  solemn  admoni- 
tion, in  your  prosperity  or  poverty  you  must 
be  loyal  to  the  Church. 

Andrew  Jackson  once  declared,  "The 
bible  is  the  rock  upon  which  the  Republic 
rests." 

During  the  writing  of  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  Benjamin  Franklin  pro- 
posed that,  each  session  be  opened  with 
prayer,  "Because,"  he  said,  "I  have  lived  a 
long  time,  and  the  longer  I  live,  the  more 
convincing  proofs  I  see  of  this  truth,  that 
God  governs  the  affairs  of  man." 

Daniel  Webster  eloquently  affirmed,  "If 
we  abide  by  the  principles  taught  in  the 
Bible,  our  country  will  go  on  prospering, 

175 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

and  continue  to  prosper;  but  if  we  in  our 
prosperity  neglect  its  instruction  and  au- 
thority, no  man  can  tell  how  sudden  a 
catastrophe  may  overwhelm  and  bury  our 
glory  in  profound  obscurity." 

Theodore  Roosevelt  spoke  this  truth: 
"Even  men  who  are  not  professedly  relig- 
ious, must,  if  they  are  frank,  admit  no  com- 
munity can  be  permanently  prosperous, 
either  morally  or  materially,  unless  the 
Church  is  a  real  and  vital  element  in  com- 
munity life." 

Support  the  Church,  men  and  women  of 
the  United  States,  and  through  that  sup- 
port, strengthen  your  faith  in  the  Master. 
Let  His  house  be  your  house ;  His  word,  the 
corner  stone  of  your  individual,  as  well  as 
your  national  life. 

Support  the  Church ;  believe  in  it ;  become 
an  earnest  member  of  it;  acknowledge  your 
personal  relationship  to  it;  and  by  percept 
and  example  make  yourself  a  worthy  citizen 
of  the  Republic. 

Support  the  Church;  and  so  live  that 
others  will  respect  and  honor  you,  because 
you  are  of  the  Church.  Teach  your  children 
to  respect  and  love  it;  help  them  to  under- 
stand that  the  Church  is  the  constant  in- 

176 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

centive  for  good,  and  the  invincible  foe  of 
evil. 

The  Church  is  responsible  for  my  birth, 
and  I  have  been  dedicated  to  the  principles 
of  Liberty  and  Justice.  Support  the  Church 
and  society  will  be  made  the  stronger  be- 
cause of  its  presence.  The  Church  is  the 
consolation  of  those  who  suffer;  the  staff  of 
those  who  are  weak;  the  foundation  of  the 
strong,  and  the  salvation  of  the  human  race. 


177 


ADDENDA 


immiiiMiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiimiimimiiiimniniiiumiiiiiiMiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiii 

With  renewed  determination  let  your 
lives  be  consecrated  to  God,  your  Country 
and  your  Flag.  Redouble  your  effort,  Oh, 
citizen.  Make  certain  by  your  action  the 
fruition  of  exalted  purpose.  Become  the 
vigorous  defender  of  the  One  Government 
making  possible  the  highest  aspirations  of 
a  Free,  Happy  and  Benevolent  people. 

Illlllllllllllllllllllllll Illllllllllllllllllllll IIMIIIIIIIIIIIIII I 


ADDENDA. 

AND  NOW  my  friend,  in  this  final  mo- 
ment, may  I  hope  you  feel  the  better 
for  knowing  me.  May  I  hope  that  you  will 
become  a  part  of  me,  that  you  will  love  me 
and  in  loving  serve. 

For  I  am  the  Flag  of  the  United  States. 

I  believe  you  have  recognized  my  right  to 
speak,  not  alone  in  my  defense,  but  in  de- 
fense of  the  sacred  rights  guaranteed  to 
every  defender  of  self-government. 

I  believe  you  will  agree  with  me  when  I 
declare  it  is  the  duty  of  every  citizen  worthy 
the  name  to  become  familiar  with  the  inci- 
dents connected  with  my  birth,  growth  and 
progress.  I  am  sure  you  will  recognize  the 
necessity  of  knowing  the  rules  of  conduct 
toward  me,  in  order  to  insure  my  proper 
care  and  protection. 

It  is  evident,  I  hope,  that  an  intimate  ac- 
quaintance with  me,  will  rekindle  the 
the  smouldering  fires  of  patriotism  and 
create  a  more  intense  reverance  for  our 
country. 

You  will,  I  am  sure,  more  deeply  appre- 
ciate me,  when  you  realize  that  I  am  the 

181 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

one  flag  that  has  never  known  defeat.  And 
that  I  am  the  recognized  symbol  of  purity 
and  innocence;  hardiness  and  valor;  vigil- 
ance, perseverance  and  justice. 

I  am  the  constant  reminder  of  your  re- 
sponsibilities. I  continually  call  upon  you 
to  deal  squarely  with  your  fellow  man.  To 
do  unto  others,  as  you  would  be  done  by.  To 
serve  God;  obey  the  law  and  live  clean  up- 
right lives.  I  repeatedly  call  to  you  bidding 
you  remember  the  vast  army  of  men  and 
women,  who  cheerfully  gave  their  lives  and 
fortunes,  that  I  might  live. 

To  know  me  is  to  appreciate  the  things 
for  which  I  stand;  to  appreciate  me,  reflects 
your  love  and  loyalty. 

At  sight  of  me,  does  not  your  heart  thrill 
with  patriotic  emotion?  Do  I  at  all  times 
receive  your  confidence  and  respect?  Have 
I  not  served  to  awaken  within  your  heart  a 
desire  for  good  citizenship?  Do  you  know 
how  to  use  and  care  for  me  ?  If  so,  take  me, 
hold  me  to  your  breast;  I  am  safe  in  your 
embrace. 

But,  if  you  are  self  centered,  selfish,  with 
no  thought,  no  care  for  others,  you  will  then 
have  need  to  know  and  understand.  Let  me 
be  your  instructor;  let  me  teach  you  the 

182 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

blessings  represented  in  me.  Let  me  appeal 
to  your  manhood  and  womanhood.  Let  me 
direct  your  feet  to  God,  and  in  His  house 
learn  the  law  of  Right  not  Might.  Let  my 
stars  and  stripes  encircle  your  homes  and 
the  children  there.  Allow  me  to  be  the  in- 
vincible defender  of  Free-speech  and  Press. 
Let  me  remain  what  I  have  been  from 
birth,  the  blessed  harbinger  of  Peace  and 
Equality. 

But  woe,  woe  unto  him  who  dares  to 
desecrate,  repudiate,  or  villify  my  memory. 
Thrice  accursed  shall  be  the  hand  that  seeks 
my  destruction.  When  I  fall  in  defeat,  gone, 
forever  gone,  are  the  liberties  of  all  people 
for  all  time.  Gone  are  the  foundations  of  so- 
ciety, of  self-government.  Gone  the  price- 
less memories  of  the  past.  Gone  our  self- 
respect;  our  faith;  our  loyalty;  our  right  to 
live.  For  amid  the  crumbling  ruins  of  the 
Republic  will  be  found  the  hopes;  the 
dreams;  the  aspirations  of  a  once  happy 
people. 

Renew,  I  beg  of  you,  this  day,  nay,  this 
hour,  your  allegiance  to  me.  Study  me; 
know  me;  serve  me;  appreciate  me.  Yes  my 
friend,  love  me.  Stand  as  ready  to  respect 
and  defend  me  as  you  would  your  own  pros- 
perity, your  honor.    Cheerfully  accept  the 

183 


THE    FLAG    OF    OUR    COUNTRY 

responsibilities  of  a  courageous  citizenship. 
Be  kind;  be  tolerant;  be  true;  give  unto  your 
neighbor  only  what  you  would  demand  for 
yourself.  And  with  Justice  for  all  and 
Enmity  toward  none,  strive  to  make  the 
United  States,  not  the  richer,  but  the  better 
for  your  having  lived. 


184 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 

Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


26Jul,60RD 

...    .... ... 

JUL  1  3  I960 

AUG   0   K  Of\(K 

MUD  &  0  lUUj 

as^gftSto40        ^-Ek1;?^* 

'D     lO^^O 


947283 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


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